~ Aug 2013~ Sew what... We've gotta find a way back! Part I!!

[babynala]

Well it looks like your October trip is pretty much set. I think you will be fine with the crowds since you will be there after Columbus day. Since the girls are out of school, it is a no brainer.

I saw your fb post and was surprised you were just starting your bag since that's only a few days but I know you will have it done. Can't wait to see it.

 

[jodi90]

Just announced...

Splash Mountain is scheduled for refurb Feb 1 - March 19!​

Disney just made my final decision for me, I cannot possibly even think of going if Splash is closed.

October (officially) it is.

D~

We are going the end of February and this made me so sad

 

[DMGeurts]

D ask Leslie on the MSB chat page she designs ours so she could probably help you.

Thanks so much for the idea!! I contacted Lesilie yesterday morning, and with in a few hours, she had a template done for me. I couldn't believe it! It looks amazing and she was just so sweet to help me out. And as busy as she is - I really wasn't expecting anything for a few weeks - I was just so shocked and excited. So, thank you Chiara for reminding me the Leslie is a whiz at that.

D~

It would be fun to finally meet up. We went once the first week of October and we were scheduled to go in Oct of 2011 but ended up changeing to March so who knows. Hey I convinced him to go back this year so anything is possible but we both want to do F&W. I just paid off our trip yesterday and only 47 days to go

That would be so much fun Sheila. I was bummed that we didn't get to meet up back in March.

Awesome that you have a trip planned for the holidays - I dream of seeing Disney with all the decorations someday.

Please keep in touch and let me know your dates if you decide to go in October.

You're official, you're official!!!!! Yay for October!!! When we made that decision this past March I was sad because my Disfriends wouldn't be in October...now several of them are!!!!! It's going to be a great time!!!

I know you were sad. I felt so badly for you.

You made a statement in your comments that you remembered just being exhausted during your last stay at SOG and couldn't understand exactly why other than the walk.... HELLO~ your girls were younger, too!!! Having small childen is exhausting, believe me, I am still living it!

That is true - but that SoG walk is a killer! (Warning - about to be bombarded with SoG path pictures)

This one is at the Poly, before you even cross the road to the SoG path:

Then the sign at the end of the road:

And the path:

Coming up the path, with the resort in the background:

However - we did have a gorgeous room view of the pool area:

Quick drive by post...


IF the military discount is extended (and there was a lot of talk about it NOT being extended this year and I was totally surprised when it was!) With a retired spouse id card you would still be eligible for it.

Last trip, I was able to get the discount for my daughter and her husband with my id card...so I am sure you could get it with yours.

Nini

Thanks for stopping by Nini! I hope you are doing better. I've been thinking of you and praying that your pain is minimal.

That's good to know about the military discount, especially that I qualify on my own.

Sad about the extending. However, haven't they had this discount for years? I thought I remember them even having the special tickets for our 2008 trip, but we've never purchased them because they just don't work out well for us.

We were there at the same time. It was very crowded but I was there for 4th of July week so that didn't bother me as much as how humid/hot it was.

Yes, I do remember October being much more humid than when we were there in March. That is sad about the crowds, but I just can't imagine that October could be as bad as spring break?

Yeah for October. I did love seeing all of MK decorated for the fall. I wish the other parks would have been more decorated though

It is beautiful! But I agree - I do wish they would do more with the other parks too... Especially AK.

But don't give up on Free Dining yet. We had a bounce back offer in our DVC room (which we never get) that had free dining from mid August - September, so you never know.

I won't give up on FD... I might just have to break down and get the Chase Disney check card... It's not like I have to use it - I just have to have it. Right?

My DH is wishing for another trip next October. We loved MNSSHP and would love to go again.

Oooh - another Dismeet perhaps?

Well it looks like your October trip is pretty much set. I think you will be fine with the crowds since you will be there after Columbus day. Since the girls are out of school, it is a no brainer.

Hopefully... LOL I am super excited for your trip coming up too!!!

I saw your fb post and was surprised you were just starting your bag since that's only a few days but I know you will have it done. Can't wait to see it.

I know - I think I am crazy! I didn't realize how little time I had to work on it until I was laying in bed last night. Today - D~ will be a work-a-holic.

We are going the end of February and this made me so sad

I know - There is just no way I could ever plan a trip and go when Splash is closed. I remember saying it somewhere, that if I was every planning a trip, and they anounced that Splash was going to be refurbed while we were planning to be there, I would switch my dates. And I would. LOL And I did. I am sorry that it will be closed while you are there.

Yesterday was a crazy day for us...

We have been trying to refinance the house (low interest rates right now) since June (Yes, June!)... and it's just been one thing after another (nothing to do with us)... We finally closed on it yesterday! 4 months later~! So, instead of working in my sewing room all day - we had to go do paperwork in the morning.

Then I had to get groceries...

Then I had to go help out with some City business...

Then I promised the girls a movie night...

I never once set foot in my sewing room all day. And I have a looming deadline to meet... I need to be done with this item by Monday, because I need to have time to take pictures and get the auction ready, and I also need to start another order.

Today - I will be chaining my sewing room door closed. I am determined to finish by tomorrow night.

Although - yesterday, I did purchase my first official Disney Gift Card for this trip... I should show you all the stack from our last trip... LOL I plan to throw those away - but I had to hold on to them until our trip was well over, because if they have to refund me at all - it has to go back on the original GC. I also want to go online and check the balances on all of them, to ensure they all are at $0... I got through about 5 of them last night, and it was such a PITA - I am not sure when/if I will get to checking the rest of them?

Today, I plan to order a portion of the girls' MNSSHP costumes.

I know there was something else trip related that I was going to tell you all??? But if I happen to recall it - I will come back...

I hope you have a fantastic day!

D~

 

[DMGeurts]

To reflect our new October plans.

Plans

 

[mommy2mrb]

yay for getting your trip figured out for October! hope you have a better time at MNSSHP than we did last year....so hard to believe that its been almost a year since we left for WDW!
good luck getting your auction item all finished up!

 

[DisNorth]

I'm very excited to hear about the actions! Can wait to see what you create!

So exciting that you have decided on October. I loved MNSHP and I hope you do too, hopefully you get good weather!

 

[DMGeurts]

I just had to hop on for a minute tonight...

The girls and I had a mini-meeting this morning, where I sprang the idea on them of doing a split stay... Gulp.

We've decided that we are going to do 2 or 3 nights at AKL - water view (hoping to afford a savanna view) - bunk bed room. Then we are going to do the remainder of our trip at FQ. That way, we will get a taste of AKL... I am afraid though, there will be no going back after that.

We also made a game plan for the rest of our trip - which I will update later... We really had a lot we want to squish into 7 days - it's gonna be rough.

D~

 

[VBAndrea]

I am trying to catch up, but I can't seem to find the pic you posted modeling your Land's End Tankini. Would you mind reposting it for me? TIA

 

[KatMark]

I just had to hop on for a minute tonight...

The girls and I had a mini-meeting this morning, where I sprang the idea on them of doing a split stay... Gulp.

We've decided that we are going to do 2 or 3 nights at AKL - water view (hoping to afford a savanna view) - bunk bed room. Then we are going to do the remainder of our trip at FQ. That way, we will get a taste of AKL... I am afraid though, there will be no going back after that.

We also made a game plan for the rest of our trip - which I will update later... We really had a lot we want to squish into 7 days - it's gonna be rough.

D~

D, you will LOVE AKL....we loved it last year (and although we want to go back, we give OKW just a slight edge because of location).

 

[DMGeurts]

yay for getting your trip figured out for October! hope you have a better time at MNSSHP than we did last year....so hard to believe that its been almost a year since we left for WDW!
good luck getting your auction item all finished up!

I am quite nervous about MNSSHP... I have heard a lot of really bad reports lately, many of them similar you your (and Judy's) experience last year.

I can't believe that it's been a year already too!

I made great progress on my auction item yesterday.

I'm very excited to hear about the actions! Can wait to see what you create!

So exciting that you have decided on October. I loved MNSHP and I hope you do too, hopefully you get good weather!

Thanks, I am very excited about them too. Now that I am only working at Target 1-2 days per week, I have a little more time to eek out a fun item - I figure that once per month isn't that much of a commitment. I hope to always work ahead.

I've loved MNSSHP in the past, I just hope it's as good as it used to be.

I am trying to catch up, but I can't seem to find the pic you posted modeling your Land's End Tankini. Would you mind reposting it for me? TIA

Here you go:

Glad to see you out and about Andrea - I've been worried. I hope you're doing better.

D, you will LOVE AKL....we loved it last year (and although we want to go back, we give OKW just a slight edge because of location).

Thanks Kathy! I would think that AKL's theming would also over shadow OKW? Not the case? When we were on ME - we also dropped at SS and OKW - they are both so HUGE! It seems to me that it would be so far to everything?

More trip ramblings:

So, as I said, the girls and I did a good planning session yesterday morning.

As you probably saw in my previous post, we've decided to do a split stay. Partially at AKL and partially at FQ. We've also decided, since we'd like to do AKL first, that our check in night will not include going into a park. We'd like to get to the resort to relax and explore. However - we may do an ADR with in the resort that night. We did Boma last time - and it wasn't a favorite. Does anyone have any experience with Sanaa?

We have also decided that a bunk bed room is a "must try"... Part of our issue on our last trip, is that someone always had to share a bed. This time I would get my own bed. And the girls would get the bunks... which could be - they have never had bunks. Allison is such a sound sleeper, and when she does wake during the night - she does everying in a semi-comatose state... I think it would be in everyone's best interest if she had the bottom bunk. V is a little more coherent if she wakes during the night. I really wish that more of the resorts had the bunk bed option.

We decided that the military passes will not work for this trip either. Which is too bad, they do save us quite a bit in the long run - but they also really make us give up so much. If only they were 5 days passes instead of 4. Besides, we really have no idea if they will be exteneded anyways, so it's best not to plan for them to be.

In light of not using the military passes, we decided that we definately want to try a water park. And we've decided that TL is the one we'd like to try. I am not certain if we will add the WPF&M to our tickets, or if we will just purchase a 1 day WP admission. I will have to crunch those numbers and see if there is anyway to get some use to the add on - other than one day at the WP. I am not sure that we will have the time to do any of the other options.

Because of the new FL expansion - we'd really like to do 2 MK days, but we just don't have the time. So, we are planning one full MK day. We will also be in MK for MNSSHP. Then we were thinking that we'd go into MK the evening of our water park day - exclusively to tour FL only.

Does anyone know... If we do the WPF&M option... Can we use a water park pass and a regular park pass in the same day?

We'd also like to do 2 days in AK... Just because we like it so much.

We were talking about doing hoppers and then doing a half day in Epcot and a half day in DHS. But after talking about it, and asking the girls what their must do attractions in each of those parks are - it was determined that there is just no way we could do a half day in each. So, we are planning full days in both parks.

Then, the morning of our MNSSHP day will be our only break over the entire trip. I am not happy about that. I really would like one full day off. I really would consider flying down on Friday, so we could get that extra day in there for a break during the week - otherwise we will be exhausted.

So, as of now... This is how our days look. They will not necessarily stay in this order, because TP hasn't released all their best days yet for our time frame. And then we won't know which day we are doing MNSSHP until those dates are released (anyone know when that happens?).

Saturday, October 12: Fly, Check in to AKL, relax
Sunday, October 13: MK
Monday, October 14: AK
Tuesday, October 15: DHS
Wednesday, October 16: Water park/MK
Thursday, October 17: Off/MNSSHP
Friday, October 18: Epcot
Saturday, October 19: AK
Sunday, October 20: Fly

But if we checked in on Friday - we could save our "relax day for later in the week - like Monday or Tues, and tour a park on Sat? But that would mean 3 or 4 nights in a deluxe resort, over a weekend (when it's more expensive)... Honestly, and I know this is nuts... I would like to check in to POFQ, then go to AKL during the week when it's cheaper, then go back to POFQ - LOL, but that would be a lot of hassle and moving.

Bored to death yet?

SSP update:

I got a lot accomplished yesterday, and I am super duper happy with it! I hope to have photos to post later today. I still have a lot left to do - so it will be much later. But I LOVE the fabrics!!! ANd the applique turned out really cute. Originally, I was going to do something totally different for the applique, but I got called away - and in the process decided that I didn't want to do the applique I had ready to go, so as a last minute change, I changed my mind and did something different - and I am glad I did. I have a great idea for the coordinating piece, and then Alli added on to my idea (a bit of humor) - so I am excited to see the whole thing done today. I am just worried that it will be too much for an auction, and no one will want it.

Tomorrow, it's back to working on an order again - once that's finished I will go back to more of my SSP. It's still going to be quite crazy for me over the next few weeks - because I have only told you all about a teeny-tiny portion of the SSP... There's more, much more.

I hope everyone has a fantastic day.

D~

 

[NiniMorris]

Quick drop by...


You do realize that the Cruise Ships are decorated for the holidays don't you?

Nini

 

[miprender]

I just had to hop on for a minute tonight...

The girls and I had a mini-meeting this morning, where I sprang the idea on them of doing a split stay... Gulp.

We've decided that we are going to do 2 or 3 nights at AKL - water view (hoping to afford a savanna view) - bunk bed room. Then we are going to do the remainder of our trip at FQ. That way, we will get a taste of AKL... I am afraid though, there will be no going back after that.

We also made a game plan for the rest of our trip - which I will update later... We really had a lot we want to squish into 7 days - it's gonna be rough.

D~

You'll love the pool view at AKL But it will be hard to go back to moderate after staying deluxe.

Besides Judy, I haven't heard any bad reports on MNSSHP. I have to say this was one of our favorite things we have done at Disney. Everyone loved it so much that we all want to go back next October.

 

[KatMark]

Thanks Kathy! I would think that AKL's theming would also over shadow OKW? Not the case? When we were on ME - we also dropped at SS and OKW - they are both so HUGE! It seems to me that it would be so far to everything?

D, OKW is large...but there is an internal bus through the resort (or you can take any park bus as the last stop before they go to the parks is the Hospitality House); there's also a pool by each village.

We are big Coronado fans and a lot of people complain how large it is. Let me tell you that when we stayed at AKL our room was so far away that the walk at the Coronado seemed like peanuts compared to it. It just depends on where your room is located at almost any resort.

 

[DMGeurts]

Maybe?

So, I only plan on showing these pictures here until later in the week. So those of you that are reading my PTR get to enjoy this bag for a few days before the rest of the world.

This is the only holiday bag I am doing this year - I have NONE on my customs list until well into next year.

I love, love, love how this bag turned out, and I love, love, love the fabric... It's kind of this cherry color - not red, not hot pink, but definately more red than hot pink (Nini - I think this is the same fabric I used for your holiday AG dress last year?)...

Anyways - this bag has been nagging at the back of my mind for months...

I struggled with this bag applique for a long time - I've been trying to figure it out for months. I went so far as to have a totally different applique cut out and ready to go onto the bag yesterday afternoon. If I wouldn't have been called away from this project - I think I would have totally wrecked this bag. I am very happy I stepped away and gathered my thoughts, because the end result was exactly what I wanted.

Back:

Inside the front zip pocket:

Looking down into the front ruffle slip-in pocket:

The main zip compartment of the bag:

I designed the appliques so that while Mickey was carrying the plate of cookies, he decided to snitch one with his other hand. But Alli came up with the idea of the missing bite out of the cookie - I thought her idea was brilliant!

Inside the Zip-Wallet:

This set also comes with a lanyard.

D~

 

[solana131]

Oh D that bag is gorgeous!
And I like your split stay plan. Im sure bell services has it down packed and it will all go smoothly.

 

[Moosemomma]

So cute! I LOVE the interior fabric!

 

[cogero]

Love the applique

 

[WDWCP96]

I love the holiday bag! The fabrics are fantastic and the bite out of the cookie is so cute!

 

[Restrasz]

Your bag is beautiful as usual!

 

[DiznyDi]

Another great bag! Design + fabric = a winning combination.