A Whole New WDWorld: A March PTR (NEW! 6/27 TR link!)

[oOJulieOo]

I got a short message from DH this morning. He was waiting to go into his final interview of the day and had the first internet access of the trip, so he was able to send me a quick email.

He said that the interview process has been very rigorous. He has met with 5 different people for about an hour each. That sounds like torture to me!

They have informed him that there are several other candidates that are being considered for this position, but they will make a decision pretty quickly once the interview is over.

He said that as he was sitting in the main lobby, he had a view of Lake Geneva and it was breathtaking.

Sooo...part of me is hoping that he does not receive an offer. Then we will have no decision to make.

But...part of me is hoping that they make him a fabulous offer so that we can have a grand European adventure.

When he gets home (tomorrow), it's time to make the giant pros and cons list and to figure ourselves out.

Sometimes being an adult is overrated. That's why I love Disney World! I love it when the biggest decision I have to make is what stroller to bring on the trip with me!

 

[BrooklynnsMommy]

I'm going to see what I can do about perking my umbrella stroller up. I've seen a couple things on Amazon and I'll see what I can find at Babies R Us.

Bella's umbrella stroller does not have cup holders nor does it have a storage basket underneath. I got a fabulous little cupholder at Babies R Us for like $7. It is sturdy and hold stwo cups. It just velcroes on. i will go home and look at it and give you the brand and other info.

I know it is easy to overpack just remember to take what you need and only what you need. Remember the bus gets full and you don't want to be juggling a bag full of stuff you never even used.

 

[PirateKate]

I had the hardest time deciding whether to bring my big stroller or my little umbrellas in December. I ended up bringing both. We always took the big stroller to the parks, but we used an umbrella for around the resort and Landon sat in one to eat his breakfast in the mornings.

I didn't think my umbrella strollers would be comfortable enough for the boys to nap, but it sounds like your umbrella strollers is nicer than mine. I think I would have been fine with storage with the umbrellas, since it's easy to stick a back on the handlebars.

Oh- Claire looks very cute in her explorer hat! Wouldn't she be cute in that hat, getting her picture taken with safari Mickey at the Animal Kingdom?

 

[TarzansKat]

I'm confident that in regard to Switzerland, everything is going to work out however it's meant to.

And yes, life should be so easy as debating what kind of stroller to bring on vacation, I am with you on that one!!!

 

[oOJulieOo]

Bella's umbrella stroller does not have cup holders nor does it have a storage basket underneath. I got a fabulous little cupholder at Babies R Us for like $7. It is sturdy and hold stwo cups. It just velcroes on. i will go home and look at it and give you the brand and other info.

I know it is easy to overpack just remember to take what you need and only what you need. Remember the bus gets full and you don't want to be juggling a bag full of stuff you never even used.

I think I may have seen those cup holders, but if you can tell me the brand, that would be wonderful. Thanks Jill!

I am such a terrible overpacker! I was getting so much better and then Claire came along. I will try very hard to cut down on my "necessities" on this trip.

I had the hardest time deciding whether to bring my big stroller or my little umbrellas in December. I ended up bringing both. We always took the big stroller to the parks, but we used an umbrella for around the resort and Landon sat in one to eat his breakfast in the mornings.

I didn't think my umbrella strollers would be comfortable enough for the boys to nap, but it sounds like your umbrella strollers is nicer than mine. I think I would have been fine with storage with the umbrellas, since it's easy to stick a back on the handlebars.

Oh- Claire looks very cute in her explorer hat! Wouldn't she be cute in that hat, getting her picture taken with safari Mickey at the Animal Kingdom?

My umbrella stroller is a big bigger than a typical umbrella stroller. It still folds up pretty small, but it reclines to be completely flat and appears that it will be pretty cozy for naps. I'm going to have to figure out which bag that we own will stay securely on the handles of the stroller. Good point!

I'm confident that in regard to Switzerland, everything is going to work out however it's meant to.

And yes, life should be so easy as debating what kind of stroller to bring on vacation, I am with you on that one!!!

I wish I could have that confidence. I just don't have it right now. Maybe when DH gets home and we can discuss everything, I will feel better!

And the second biggest decision is where to have dinner. Oh, the stress!

 

[oOJulieOo]

Breaking in our Disney clothes!

 

[BrooklynnsMommy]

Breaking in our Disney clothes!

So incredibly adorable!!!!

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Awwww!!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Claire is so cute modeling her Disney duds!

A view of Lake Geneva? That's got to go on the list of pros! Good luck with everything!

 

[TarzansKat]

OMG! That outfit! Those boots!

What a little Disney fashionista.

 

[PirateKate]

Claire looks awesome! She should be a Disney baby model. I like her little boots.

 

[micandminforever]

Thoughts and Prayers with you and your husband as you make career decisions.

I agree with everyone Claire would make the perfect baby Disney model. I love her in her safari hat.

 

[Cat0727]

Hi Julie, I'm joining in! I came over from MeMom and Jill's report. Claire is such a cutie pie!

 

[oOJulieOo]

So incredibly adorable!!!!

Awwww!!

Claire is so cute modeling her Disney duds!

A view of Lake Geneva? That's got to go on the list of pros! Good luck with everything!

DH is home now and he showed me a pic from the lobby. Wowsa! It's amazing. Truly.

OMG! That outfit! Those boots!

What a little Disney fashionista.

Haha! A Disney fashionista!

Claire looks awesome! She should be a Disney baby model. I like her little boots.

I have a feeling Claire would get fired in her first 5 minutes as a baby model. We couldn't purchase even one of the photos from her 9 month photo shoot because none of them turned out well because she would not sit still for even a second!

I love those boots. I will be sad when they no longer fit her!

Thoughts and Prayers with you and your husband as you make career decisions.

I agree with everyone Claire would make the perfect baby Disney model. I love her in her safari hat.

Thank you for the thoughts and prayers. We have a big decision ahead of us and we're trying so very hard to make the "right" one.

Hi Julie, I'm joining in! I came over from MeMom and Jill's report. Claire is such a cutie pie!

Hi! Welcome!

Thanks!

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

oooooh I love the skirt

 

[oOJulieOo]

oooooh I love the skirt

Thanks!

 

[mrsksomeday]

I am so happy to see this TR!! I read it all today, so I am going to just start replying to the whole thing:

Your MNSSHP picture is fantastic, such a great shot and I can't even express how gorgeous Claire is .

Maybe your hubby will fall in love with WDW when he sees it through Claire's eyes? There is nothing like going to WDW and seeing the wonder on their faces from all the magic.

Sounds like you have great plans for this year. It exhausted me just reading about them . I am so happy you have family that you enjoy spending time with enough to go on vacations with them.

Congrats on the resort upgrade , Bill and I loved POR when we were there.

Switzerland is such a fantastic opportunity, I understand the angst about the family and friends, but ask yourself how much you both will regret this if you pass it up? I know you will make the decision that is best for you, your husband, and Claire.

As for favorite counter service meal? Bill and I both enjoy Sunshine Seasons at Epcot, the snack he loves a Dole Whip, but sadly it was too cold for one on our last trip , I fell in love with the Disney popcorn.

I LOVE your souvenir list!! Your "practice makes perfect" pictures are adorable!!

I am really enjoying your report and so happy to see you on the board .

 

[oOJulieOo]

I am so happy to see this TR!! I read it all today, so I am going to just start replying to the whole thing:

Your MNSSHP picture is fantastic, such a great shot and I can't even express how gorgeous Claire is .

Maybe your hubby will fall in love with WDW when he sees it through Claire's eyes? There is nothing like going to WDW and seeing the wonder on their faces from all the magic.

Sounds like you have great plans for this year. It exhausted me just reading about them . I am so happy you have family that you enjoy spending time with enough to go on vacations with them.

Congrats on the resort upgrade , Bill and I loved POR when we were there.

Switzerland is such a fantastic opportunity, I understand the angst about the family and friends, but ask yourself how much you both will regret this if you pass it up? I know you will make the decision that is best for you, your husband, and Claire.

As for favorite counter service meal? Bill and I both enjoy Sunshine Seasons at Epcot, the snack he loves a Dole Whip, but sadly it was too cold for one on our last trip , I fell in love with the Disney popcorn.

I LOVE your souvenir list!! Your "practice makes perfect" pictures are adorable!!

I am really enjoying your report and so happy to see you on the board .

Hi Tracy! Thanks for stopping by and reading!

I think that my DH will definitely feel sad that he won't get to see Claire's first time at Disney World in person. Now that she is much more interested in the world around her, I think she will enjoy it much more than he knows!

I, too, love the Disney popcorn. I always get those souvenir buckets. And then I eat my popcorn at home out of the souvenir buckets! Somehow, it never does taste the same.

I do love Sunshine Seasons. The draw of all the different foods in World Showcase is too much for me, though, and I usually skip Sunshine Seasons and graze around the World!

So happy that you're here!

 

[oOJulieOo]

Good morning everyone! And what a good morning it is. The sun is shining for the first time in several days, I have all the curtains open, letting the sunshine fill the house, and we have only one short month until we go to Disney World! Dance with me!


Now that we're getting down to one month, I'm starting to seriously prepare for this trip. I began my packing list yesterday. One of the things that my engineer husband has taught me is the beauty of a well-made spreadsheet. I now do all of my packing lists in spreadsheet form and it makes the whole thing so much easier. So I now have a halfway-done Disney World Packing List spreadsheet. I add things here and there as I think of them. I also take many, many things off the the list as we get closer to the trip because as I have said, I am a terrible overpacker and I would bring the whole house if I had someone to carry the bags for me!

I've been purchasing trip items here and there and stashing them in my Disney bag.

Unfortunately for Claire, one of the things she inherited from me is my ultra sensitive skin. My skin reacts poorly and strongly to most lotions and cleansers and it burns oh-so-quickly in the sun. Claire's skin appears to be the same with lotions and cleansers and I'm guessing it will be the same with the sun. So I have purchased sunscreen. Lots and lots of sunscreen.

The California Baby stuff is what we used last summer. It's supposedly all natural and Claire's skin had no reaction to it. However, I don't know just how well this will protect her against the sun. While we used it all of last summer, we also kept her covered while in the sun, so she didn't really have a chance to burn. We haven't tried the Johnson's or the Water Babies, but I think these will provide better protection against the sun. Water Babies is what I use for myself and it's great. I'm going to try these on her before the trip to see if she has a reaction.

I saw these spoons on sale at Walgreen's, so I picked up a couple packages of them.

I don't want to have to worry about losing spoons if and when we use them at Disney World, so I bought some that I won't care about losing!

These little beauties (Oh, who am I kidding? They're size 9. They're not little.) were delivered by my friend, the FedEx guy, the other day.

They're Crocs Malindi shoes and I am in love with them. I wore them at work yesterday and I was able to demonstrate jumps and squats and lunges in them, so they passed the work test. They were very comfortable and I have high hopes for them at Disney World.

This also came in the mail yesterday.

Southwest drink coupons. I earned a free flight with Rapid Rewards and with each free flight, they send you 4 drink coupons. So if Claire is a terror on the flight and all else fails, I will bust these out. No, not for Claire! For me!

I've been gradually adding money to my Disney gift card:

I've been saving some money each week to use toward food and souvenir costs on our trip and I've been putting the money on Disney gift cards. This way, it will seem like a lot less money out of pocket, which is always nice!

My next task is to begin buying little toys and things that will keep Claire occupied on the flights. I plan to hit the Target dollar section later today as they seem to have a lot of that sort of thing. Any ideas of things I can buy for this purpose?

I am so very excited that our trip is only one month away! This thought (and the sunshine) have been putting a little extra spring in my step all morning!

 

[ChildAtHeart82]

I thought I subscribed to your PTR when I first found it but I guess not. I was really behind but I'm now all caught up!

I really like the boat ride to DTD and Earl of Sandwich is delicious. Hall of Presidents is on our must do list too. I'm praying for your family as you make the Switzerland decision.

Claire is such a cutie!