An OCD Planners Dream: First Trip, MNSSHP, and Free Dining!! A September PTR

[akayek31]

Hey. You are so lucky to go to MNSSHP. I want to go to one of those. We will be there at Christmas. When we went in May we had pop tarts and donuts for breakfast so we didn't need the fridge.

 

[kmartin555]

I will be on the look out... MNSSHP is awesome!!! You and the family are going to have a blast... Be sure to hit up the dance parties, my DS7 had an awesome time dancing with the characters! I'm not really dressing up, think I might just wear my Minnie Ears. I know, it's hard finding something cool and comfortable for the kiddies to wear. Last time we were there, DS wore a Ratatioulle chefs hat and apron w/Remy in the pocket! It was great. Here's a picture!

This year, I am taking him to Pirates league before the party for a pirate makeover and just having him wear of POTC shirt and kahki shorts! So excited!!!

I love the Remy costume! It's so cute but easy enough to be able to navigate the parks in. Your DS7 looks like a lot of fun! What a smile! I love all of the Pirate stuff that Disney offers! Pirates league sounds awesome. Be sure and post pics after!

I am in!

I just started my binder today. I had all the stuff, but I put it all in one place!

I need to make luggage tags, but unfortunately, my very nice color printer broke and I am using the business fax, which is just B/W. I will probably just use the ones Disney sends.

I am also looking for bags for my 8yoDD and my 13yo cousin to wear for autograph books. I already bought the books off ebay though.

Thanks for joining in! The binders are so much fun to make. It's so handy to have all of the info in one place, and I didn't want to have to lug a big guide book around. Post your binder pics when u are done! I love love love seeing what others put together!

The bags that came with the autograph books look like they would be SO easy to make, if you know anyone who sews. I can't even sew on a button! I needed something lightweight that they wouldn't try to pile on dad halfway through the day!

They won't stick out at all if they are non disney. You will find people (adults and children) there from super dressed up, to not dressed up at all. I have seen disney and non disney costumes, its all in good fun!

I am a TGM subscriber too, and I love the small version of your planning book!

Thanks so much! I had a lot of fun making it, and it was a great project for Maci and I to do together.

I love TourGuide Mike! His site is really overwhelming at first, but there is a lot of really good info in there once I figured it out!

It's good to know that not everyone dresses up in Disney costumes. We like to be really creative on Halloween! Of course, with all of the trip planning and back to school stuff (among other things!), I am not exactly sure when I am going to find the time to be creative this year!

I just love the iron-on name designs that you have there. That would be really cute for them to wear on a shirt later on in the week, too.

Just loved the girls costumes last year. WOW! They look fabulous! You really have pretty girls, even when one has blood dripping out of her eye?

I think a cowgirl would be absolutely adorable, especially with that hat you described, but you may have to devote a suitcase "just" for their costumes!

Oh, thanks so much for saying that about my girls! Of course I think so, but it is always nice when someone else says so.

Oh, and no blood, We don't go that far!! Here's a close up. Scary, isn't she?

She got the cowgirl hat for the land run at school this year (We are in Oklahoma, remember!) and fell in love with it. We saw matching little pink holsters at the party store that she is dying to have. With the cost of checking luggage on Delta, I am concerned about the luggage space issue, of course! Maci's solution to that problem is to wear the costume on the plane! DH would just LOVE that. He already thinks I give her too much creative license as it is!

Hey. You are so lucky to go to MNSSHP. I want to go to one of those. We will be there at Christmas. When we went in May we had pop tarts and donuts for breakfast so we didn't need the fridge.

Thanks for stopping by! I feel very lucky to go to the party. I LOVE Halloween! Christmas will be a blast too, though. At least it won't be as humid! I think we are planning on keeping breakfasts simple, as well. I found a little soft sided cooler that we had around here and I may bring that for some waters, etc. and just fill it with ice from the machine.

 

[aaaateamsgrandma]

Hi Kristin,

With the phones on service and just 3 patients left to go for the day I got the chance to read. I work for a psychiatrist in case you didn't know.

Everything is great that you have planned. We had a car so not sure how the bus system is from Pop. There are a lot of Pop fans out there that could surely fill you in.

Your girls are cutie pies and love their names. Great job. Good luck on your career. Excellent and rewarding choice. You can judge my skills on the boards. I am not a Psychtherapist, just a Psycho. Little humor there.

DH has a good career choice also. I think there is always a need for HVAC. Would hate to be without either heat or air.

I am not a fanatical about Disney as some are but I do love it and am anxious to go back.

We don't live that far from one another.

Ginny

 

[DevonsDisneyMom]

I love the Remy costume! It's so cute but easy enough to be able to navigate the parks in. Your DS7 looks like a lot of fun! What a smile! I love all of the Pirate stuff that Disney offers! Pirates league sounds awesome. Be sure and post pics after!


Thanks Kristin!! He is such a ham!!! An the costume was such a hit at the party!!! DS is very excited about Pirates League! I will definitely post pictures when we get back!

So excited... One day closer to our trips!!!

 

[MICKEY4EVER!]

Oh, I see! No blood, after all! I think from the angle of the picture, it looked like something was dripping from her eye. What a great costume! I can't wait to see what you come up with for the MNSSHP! Mitchell was Buzz Lightyear last year. Here's a photo or two! Nevermind what I look like. That was after a VERY long day of work! And we'd already been to one Halloween party and were getting ready to go neighborhood trick-or-treating. Mitchell looked pretty cute, though!

 

[kmartin555]

Hi Kristin,

With the phones on service and just 3 patients left to go for the day I got the chance to read. I work for a psychiatrist in case you didn't know.

Everything is great that you have planned. We had a car so not sure how the bus system is from Pop. There are a lot of Pop fans out there that could surely fill you in.

Your girls are cutie pies and love their names. Great job. Good luck on your career. Excellent and rewarding choice. You can judge my skills on the boards. I am not a Psychtherapist, just a Psycho. Little humor there.

DH has a good career choice also. I think there is always a need for HVAC. Would hate to be without either heat or air.

I am not a fanatical about Disney as some are but I do love it and am anxious to go back.

We don't live that far from one another.

Ginny

Thanks so much for stopping by! Humor is not only welcome on this thread, but encouraged!

Thanks for the compliments on the girls names. No one liked Menley's name at first, but I get a lot of compliments about it now, and she loves it.

We are not Disney fanatics either, at least character/memorabilia wise. We love Disney movies and we do LOVE the Pixar movies though! And I do think that we will be Disney vacation fanatics. Someday I would love to do a Disney Cruise. I think that sounds incredible.

I am heading to your TR now!

I love the Remy costume! It's so cute but easy enough to be able to navigate the parks in. Your DS7 looks like a lot of fun! What a smile! I love all of the Pirate stuff that Disney offers! Pirates league sounds awesome. Be sure and post pics after!


Thanks Kristin!! He is such a ham!!! An the costume was such a hit at the party!!! DS is very excited about Pirates League! I will definitely post pictures when we get back!

So excited... One day closer to our trips!!!

Can't wait to see them! I can't believe how close our trips are getting! All of this planning and waiting and wishing, and now I am starting to panic because I feel like I don't have enough time!

Oh, I see! No blood, after all! I think from the angle of the picture, it looked like something was dripping from her eye. What a great costume! I can't wait to see what you come up with for the MNSSHP! Mitchell was Buzz Lightyear last year. Here's a photo or two! Nevermind what I look like. That was after a VERY long day of work! And we'd already been to one Halloween party and were getting ready to go neighborhood trick-or-treating. Mitchell looked pretty cute, though!

Mitchell looks AWESOME! Love the Buzz costume. He is such a doll! Does he have a request for a costume this year yet?

 

[CupidsKiss]

I'm back! I thought I should give you some basic info before I lay out the plans:

We are staying at POP Century. We started out at AS Movies. After reading up about hotels on the DIS, I wanted to move to POP, but the rooms were booked up for our dates. We got the PIN code for the upgrade a few weeks ago and I was SOOO excited! Well, we missed out on the upgrade, BUT we were able to make the switch to POP.

We have 6 days MYW tickets with the Waterparks and More option. We had already planned to go to Disney Quest and one of the waterparks, so this option was a no-brainer. Has anyone experienced the waterparks in September?

We also have tickets to MNSSHP on September 22nd! Halloween is my absolute FAVORITE holiday, so when I realized the party would be happening during our stay, I bought tickets immediately! First day they went on sale! I am sooo exited about this party, especially seeing the villians.

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We will be at Pop the same time as you and doing MNNSHP the same night. My dd11 much like yours has started her own portfolio. I laugh reading your trip reports as it seems so familiar.

 

[kmartin555]

We will be at Pop the same time as you and doing MNNSHP the same night. My dd11 much like yours has started her own portfolio. I laugh reading your trip reports as it seems so familiar.

That's awesome! It's so much fun to meet families that are going at the same time as we are. Your excitement is building at the same time as ours!

Running off to read your PTR now!!

 

[kmartin555]

Hi everyone! Just a quick mini update. DH won a gift certificate the other day, for $100 off at a western store here in town. So I just looked at their website, and they have some awesome pink boots in kids sizes! Best part is, they are only $50! So we can get them for Maci's costume for free!! Her costume is really coming together. Now, I just have to figure out what to do for Menley's costume. We are running out of time!

I am really looking at our budget this week. It is so hard to figure out how much spending money we will need! We had a really rough summer financially. Our air conditioning system broke, we had a gas leak, the water heater went out...you get the idea! So I kept having to dip into our trip fund. I did a lot of things to replace the money, including ebay, a garage sale, etc. So we have almost caught back up.

A couple of things I am trying to figure out: We are planning on doing one TS meal OOP. Not sure if that should be our Tusker House breakfast, or Sci Fi lunch. Anyone have any thoughts on that? Also, Mousekeeping. Usually when we travel I leave between $3-5. Is that about right?

I'll update more tomorrow. Hope everyone has a great week!

 

[aaaateamsgrandma]

Hi everyone! Just a quick mini update. DH won a gift certificate the other day, for $100 off at a western store here in town. So I just looked at their website, and they have some awesome pink boots in kids sizes! Best part is, they are only $50! So we can get them for Maci's costume for free!! Her costume is really coming together. Now, I just have to figure out what to do for Menley's costume. We are running out of time!

I am really looking at our budget this week. It is so hard to figure out how much spending money we will need! We had a really rough summer financially. Our air conditioning system broke, we had a gas leak, the water heater went out...you get the idea! So I kept having to dip into our trip fund. I did a lot of things to replace the money, including ebay, a garage sale, etc. So we have almost caught back up.

A couple of things I am trying to figure out: We are planning on doing one TS meal OOP. Not sure if that should be our Tusker House breakfast, or Sci Fi lunch. Anyone have any thoughts on that? Also, Mousekeeping. Usually when we travel I leave between $3-5. Is that about right?

I'll update more tomorrow. Hope everyone has a great week!

Excellent on the boots. That will be great. Cheap is good, Free is better. I have not eaten at either so I'm no help for you on the meals. Sorry.
Ginny

 

[DevonsDisneyMom]

Quote:::Can't wait to see them! I can't believe how close our trips are getting! All of this planning and waiting and wishing, and now I am starting to panic because I feel like I don't have enough time!

I know!!! I was thinking the same thing! Our trips are right around the corner! This time next week we can say we are going to Disney in less then a month! Maci's costume is going to be adorable. I am definitely going to be on the look out at MNSSHP for ya'll! The thing that I am worried about the most is the weather. Seems like there are a lot a Topical Storms out there!

As far as paying for either Tusker house or Sci Fi. Are you looking to spend the least about of $$$? If that is the case I definitely think that it will be cheaper to pay for Sci Fi OOP. And for Mousekeeping, it really is a personal preference, but I would say at least $1 a per per person.

I feel you on the whole finanical front, I lost my job back in March and things are really starting to get tight, especially since I am the only source of income in my house. My fingers are crosssed that I can find something soon, but right now the job market is not so hot. Sure you understand. I know its vain to say, but I am so glad that I payed for my trip before I got laid off. I would have been devastated if I had to tell my DS we couldn't go.

 

[CupidsKiss]

Also, Mousekeeping. Usually when we travel I leave between $3-5. Is that about right?

I'l

We usually leave $2 per person in the room per day...more if there are a abundance of towel animals

 

[kmartin555]

Quote:::Can't wait to see them! I can't believe how close our trips are getting! All of this planning and waiting and wishing, and now I am starting to panic because I feel like I don't have enough time!

I know!!! I was thinking the same thing! Our trips are right around the corner! This time next week we can say we are going to Disney in less then a month! Maci's costume is going to be adorable. I am definitely going to be on the look out at MNSSHP for ya'll! The thing that I am worried about the most is the weather. Seems like there are a lot a Topical Storms out there!

As far as paying for either Tusker house or Sci Fi. Are you looking to spend the least about of $$$? If that is the case I definitely think that it will be cheaper to pay for Sci Fi OOP. And for Mousekeeping, it really is a personal preference, but I would say at least $1 a per per person.

I feel you on the whole finanical front, I lost my job back in March and things are really starting to get tight, especially since I am the only source of income in my house. My fingers are crosssed that I can find something soon, but right now the job market is not so hot. Sure you understand. I know its vain to say, but I am so glad that I payed for my trip before I got laid off. I would have been devastated if I had to tell my DS we couldn't go.

DH and I were just talking about the storms in Sept! We did not buy trip insurance, so if we get hit by a hurricane we will just have to ride it out. We are just going to stock up on ponchos and hope for the best! At least the rain will cool things off a bit, I think. Positive thinking!

I hear you on the finances. I was SOOO glad that we had paid off our trip also. All we are saving for is rental car and spending money, and that is hard enough! I am hoping rental car prices will go down right before our trip. Also, I think u are right about the OOP Sci Fi. At least then we can just pay for what we order, versus a set per person charge. I am thinking we will eat less than usual throughout this trip, due to the heat and the fact that we aren't used to eating so much TS! Dinner at a sit down restaurant is usually a special occasion for us.

Are you going to have any LGMH on your bag? I am going to keep an eye out for you guys as well!

We usually leave $2 per person in the room per day...more if there are a abundance of towel animals

I think that amount seems fair. Maci and are definitely hoping for some towel animals!!!

 

[DevonsDisneyMom]

DH and I were just talking about the storms in Sept! We did not buy trip insurance, so if we get hit by a hurricane we will just have to ride it out. We are just going to stock up on ponchos and hope for the best! At least the rain will cool things off a bit, I think. Positive thinking!

I hear you on the finances. I was SOOO glad that we had paid off our trip also. All we are saving for is rental car and spending money, and that is hard enough! I am hoping rental car prices will go down right before our trip. Also, I think u are right about the OOP Sci Fi. At least then we can just pay for what we order, versus a set per person charge. I am thinking we will eat less than usual throughout this trip, due to the heat and the fact that we aren't used to eating so much TS! Dinner at a sit down restaurant is usually a special occasion for us.

Are you going to have any LGMH on your bag? I am going to keep an eye out for you guys as well!

I think that amount seems fair. Maci and are definitely hoping for some towel animals!!!

Hey Kristin, glad to see I'm not the only nut worried about the weather!! We too opted not to get the trip insurance. So we'll be riding it out as well I with you on this thinking positive note!!!!

Same here the only thing that I need to worry about now is my spending money. Ihave some $$$ set aside but would like to go with a bit more to be on the safe side. So, I have been buying Disney dollars every week since the beginning of July, by the time the trip comes I should be good to go! It is such a huge benefit going during free dining! One less expense to worry about!

I doubt I'll have anything on my bag, what about you?

 

[kmartin555]

Hey Kristin, glad to see I'm not the only nut worried about the weather!! We too opted not to get the trip insurance. So we'll be riding it out as well I with you on this thinking positive note!!!!

Same here the only thing that I need to worry about now is my spending money. Ihave some $$$ set aside but would like to go with a bit more to be on the safe side. So, I have been buying Disney dollars every week since the beginning of July, by the time the trip comes I should be good to go! It is such a huge benefit going during free dining! One less expense to worry about!

I doubt I'll have anything on my bag, what about you?

Yes, I am SO grateful for Free Dining! It would be CS for us all trip this time without it, and even then food is still so expensive! I am also so glad that I told the girls that they each had to bring their own money. Menley has $105 and Maci has $70, and with a month to go they are doing pretty well I think! Disney Dollars are a great idea, I should have been doing that!

I thought about having a LGMH on my bag, but with my expanding list of things to do for this trip, I may not fit it in! Plus I HATE my user name. When I signed up for this site, I just picked the easiest thing I could think of. I have never used message boards before. I didn't realize I would be branded with it forever!

 

[MICKEY4EVER!]

Hi everyone! Just a quick mini update. DH won a gift certificate the other day, for $100 off at a western store here in town. So I just looked at their website, and they have some awesome pink boots in kids sizes! Best part is, they are only $50! So we can get them for Maci's costume for free!! Her costume is really coming together. Now, I just have to figure out what to do for Menley's costume. We are running out of time!

I am really looking at our budget this week. It is so hard to figure out how much spending money we will need! We had a really rough summer financially. Our air conditioning system broke, we had a gas leak, the water heater went out...you get the idea! So I kept having to dip into our trip fund. I did a lot of things to replace the money, including ebay, a garage sale, etc. So we have almost caught back up.

A couple of things I am trying to figure out: We are planning on doing one TS meal OOP. Not sure if that should be our Tusker House breakfast, or Sci Fi lunch. Anyone have any thoughts on that? Also, Mousekeeping. Usually when we travel I leave between $3-5. Is that about right?

I'll update more tomorrow. Hope everyone has a great week!

I got your question regarding Mitchell's costume request this year. He wants to be JACK SPARROW! We did the pirate thing once already, but he specifically wants to be Jack, so I'll have to figure out something.

Hey, that's awesome that you can get the pink boots for free!!! It's all coming together. Plus, those pink boots will be super cute with some of her outfits, too, I bet!

My opinion on where to eat Table Service is this: Sci-Fi is a really cool atmosphere and you get to sit in a car! But if your kids are in for the character experience, then Tusker is the way to go!!!!

 

[kmartin555]

I got your question regarding Mitchell's costume request this year. He wants to be JACK SPARROW! We did the pirate thing once already, but he specifically wants to be Jack, so I'll have to figure out something.

Hey, that's awesome that you can get the pink boots for free!!! It's all coming together. Plus, those pink boots will be super cute with some of her outfits, too, I bet!

My opinion on where to eat Table Service is this: Sci-Fi is a really cool atmosphere and you get to sit in a car! But if your kids are in for the character experience, then Tusker is the way to go!!!!

Jack Sparrow will be awesome! I think that's so cute that Mitchell is already a fan...I know I sure am!

We are definitely going to do both TS, one will just have to be OOP. Maci is super excited about the Sci Fi Menley is excited about seeing Daisy at Tusker!

 

[kmartin555]

Hello everyone! Just a quick note - I am about to give away my two backup ADR's. Now that I have everything pretty much set, I don't want to hold onto these in case someone else needs them!

I have a Tony's ADR for four, for Sept 22nd at 5:35

and

Chef Mickey's for four, Sept 26th at 6:20 pm.

I will post them on the trade board if no one here wants them, but I wanted to offer them here first!

 

[DevonsDisneyMom]

Yes, I am SO grateful for Free Dining! It would be CS for us all trip this time without it, and even then food is still so expensive! I am also so glad that I told the girls that they each had to bring their own money. Menley has $105 and Maci has $70, and with a month to go they are doing pretty well I think! Disney Dollars are a great idea, I should have been doing that!

I thought about having a LGMH on my bag, but with my expanding list of things to do for this trip, I may not fit it in! Plus I HATE my user name. When I signed up for this site, I just picked the easiest thing I could think of. I have never used message boards before. I didn't realize I would be branded with it forever!

Hey Kristen!! My DS, Devon is saving up his own $$$ too! He has close to $100!! And I know his mom-mom and pop-pop are going to give him spending money too so he shouldn't have a problem getting what he wants while he is there! Yes, I love Disney Dollars, I get them for every trip. It's so easy to put them aside and when my trip approaches I am always so shocked with how much I have. One year we had close to $500!

I'm with you, just have so much going on, not sure if I can fit in making a badge for my bag, but we'll see. And I totally agree with you, I'm not one for using message boards either but I'm hooked on the Dis!!! I lurked on here for years and finally decided what the heck I might as well just sign up, I'm on here enough!

Oh and I just started a pre-trip report myself... Check it out if you get a minute. The link is at the bottom of the signature. ~Reese

 

[kmartin555]

Hey Kristen!! My DS, Devon is saving up his own $$$ too! He has close to $100!! And I know his mom-mom and pop-pop are going to give him spending money too so he shouldn't have a problem getting what he wants while he is there! Yes, I love Disney Dollars, I get them for every trip. It's so easy to put them aside and when my trip approaches I am always so shocked with how much I have. One year we had close to $500!

I'm with you, just have so much going on, not sure if I can fit in making a badge for my bag, but we'll see. And I totally agree with you, I'm not one for using message boards either but I'm hooked on the Dis!!! I lurked on here for years and finally decided what the heck I might as well just sign up, I'm on here enough!

Oh and I just started a pre-trip report myself... Check it out if you get a minute. The link is at the bottom of the signature. ~Reese

I am headed to your PTR right now! We have so much in common that I'm sure it will be a fun read!