Blue's Road Trip - Part II ~ New 5/6: It Pays To Have Connections!!

[tiggerwannabe]

...

Same here Colleen, however, I am going to buy one of those trading starter sets this year so I can have some fun trading in the parks

Again, a little advice...Look for Castmember Only Pins!

CMs get issued pins that you will never see out in the pin stands~

I have only one and that's cause I won it at a Disney Meet.

I also have no idea how to identify them except to ask the CM if they have any...lemme know how the trading goes for you-I am interested to find out what pins you guys do get.



~Click on the pic below to see a good sampling of what I have~

The large castle in the middle is my CM only pin...

 

[Goofster57]

How can a pin be "fake" ??

Hopefully ole wise one will post and explain it.

I don’t know about Old Wise one but I will give it a shot.

Disney (or anyone else, Olympics, Hard Rock etc.) will release a pin that becomes very popular, so some unscrupulous’ people will have the pin reproduced and pass it off as the original. This can be very profitable on place like E-bay. . The “Original” might have sold for $10-$12, and I have seen some pins go for as much as $200-$250 on E-bay

They can be to as “Scrappers or Bootleg" and the inferior quality is very evident when examined closely.

And as it was mentioned if you get some of these and try to trade with a Cast Member you can end up being very disappointed. You are usually safe in trading for any of the pins off a Cast Member’s lanyard as they try and keep up with what Scrappers are currently being passed around.

Hopefully that helps some and this concludes today’s class.

Buzz, as am sure you are used to you can stay after class and clean the erasers.

 

[KatGarcia]

Thanks Kat!!!! Are you an HP fan? I can't wait for the final book. My plan is to wait and read it on the way to WDW - give me something to do with all that time but I doubt I'll last.

I am a very big Harry Potter geek! I can't ait for the new book and the movie, I even got DH reading them( and sometimes listening to the audio books too). I would NOT last, I plan to shut out the universe once I get it and read till i drop and then read it some more! LOL! Any thoughts on the Potter theme park they are opening in Orlando?

 

[PrincessJasmine08]

Just got caught up. Gosh, Blue, maybe you're the chatty one around here! Geez...that took forever. Good ADR choices but where's the Chef Mickey's? You HAVE to go see Finding Nemo the Musical. I LOVE it!! It's so cute! I can't believe we're just going to miss each other.

 

[blue_river]

Again, a little advice...Look for Castmember Only Pins!

CMs get issued pins that you will never see out in the pin stands~

Yes, I have read that! Good advice

~Click on the pic below to see a good sampling of what I have~

The large castle in the middle is my CM only pin...

Do you know if the CM pins are worth more? I would imagine so.

Your collection is awesome! I like the Mickey Head Halloween one, thanks for sharing

Is that a Canadian Moosehead beer in the picture???

I don’t know about Old Wise one but I will give it a shot.

You're so modest Goofster, thanks for sharing the knowledge

Buzz, as am sure you are used to you can stay after class and clean the erasers.

OH.....I have a suggestion

You should make him write lines

I am a very big Harry Potter geek! I can't ait for the new book and the movie, I even got DH reading them( and sometimes listening to the audio books too). I would NOT last, I plan to shut out the universe once I get it and read till i drop and then read it some more! LOL! Any thoughts on the Potter theme park they are opening in Orlando?

I can't get DH to read them, or read any book for that matter unless it has something to do with cars He does like the HP movies though

I probably won't last either and it will be hard not to read or hear spoilers.

The theme park is going to be awesome!!!! I can't wait to go

Did you know that John Irving and Stephen King were so worried about the fictional hero's fate that they urged Rowling to spare the bespectacled hero?

Our town is having a HP Midnight Madness evening on July 20th. Looks like it's going to be fun. I'm going but not dressing up.

Just got caught up. Gosh, Blue, maybe you're the chatty one around here!

Depends on the topic

Good ADR choices but where's the Chef Mickey's?

Too many other choices we want to check out!

You HAVE to go see Finding Nemo the Musical. I LOVE it!! It's so cute! I can't believe we're just going to miss each other.

Definately will see the Nemo musical

I'm so bummed that you'll be leaving when we arrive

 

[tiggerwannabe]

...

Do you know if the CM pins are worth more? I would imagine so.

Your collection is awesome! I like the Mickey Head Halloween one, thanks for sharing

Is that a Canadian Moosehead beer in the picture???
...

Yes, I am absolutely sure that they are worth more being a much more limited distribution than the stuff at the pin carts.

Thank you, that one was actually a gift from my Disney enabler friend Rose~

Ma'am, yes Ma'am! Nothing but the best!

 

[KathyRN137]

Since my post about ebay, I received some advice from a wise DISer who warned me that they may be fakes. Guess this pin trading business is serious stuff

Whew! I'm actually a bit relieved. I don't have an ebay account and I don't want to get hooked into THAT!!

My DISboards addiction is quite enough!

I don't trade my pins, either. But I love to wear my lanyard in the parks. Only problem is, it weighs about two pounds!! I also wear them on my jacket and my backpack (with security backs).

At home, I wear them on my scrubs. I wear a Nurse Minnie and a pin for whatever holiday is coming up next.

A little tiny bit of Disney every working day!!

There are usually pins to be found in the Outlet "department" of DisneyShopping.com. I think these would be much safer than shopping on ebay.....

Kathy

 

[KathyRN137]

Does anyone ever read the titles of the "Related Threads" on the Board Tracker down on the bottom of the page??

"Yes", I'd really like to know why anyone would think a thread about "a musty smell in the Dolphin rooms" would have anything to do with your pre-trip report!?!

Kathy

 

[Goofster57]

Our town is having a HP Midnight Madness evening on July 20th. Looks like it's going to be fun. I'm going but not dressing up.

That sounds awesome

Is there a place big enough to hold all 19 of you?

 

[blue_river]

Happy Independence Day

 

[blue_river]

Thank you, that one was actually a gift from my Disney enabler friend Rose~

Nice gift

Ma'am, yes Ma'am! Nothing but the best!

Really? We're not that fond of it. Well I'm not much of a brewsky drinker to begin with and if I do have a beer, it has to be a Corona with a lime. I prefer wine and mostly red wine or Ceasars

My DISboards addiction is quite enough!

I hear ya Kathy!

At home, I wear them on my scrubs. I wear a Nurse Minnie and a pin for whatever holiday is coming up next.

A little tiny bit of Disney every working day!!

Does anyone ever read the titles of the "Related Threads" on the Board Tracker down on the bottom of the page??

Never - until you just pointed it out

That's strange!

Is there a place big enough to hold all 19 of you?

Hey! There are 25 of us!!!

It might get a little crowded

 

[blue_river]

We were out on the boat on the weekend and I brought my Unofficial Guide to WDW and DH brought his auto-trader.

This has been our routine. We don’t go out far, just far enough down river so that we can’t see neighbours or any other houses. We anchored in our usual spot between two islands, turned the motor off and the radio on. It's either listen to music or the loud croaking of the bullfrogs in the evening.

This particular day, I brought along my WDW Calendar I made with our plans on it. It has all the important stuff like confirmation numbers for ADR’s, when and where we will use CS & TS credits and EMH. It’s probably the 6th copy I’ve made because I’m always changing things around or adding something new. This is a copy of my first draft:

I interrupted DH from his reading (if you can call browsing through a car/truck trader magazine reading) and said ever so sweetly

(because Mama always told me you get more bees with honey)

Me: Do you want to see our Disney plans?
DH looks up from his book, sighs loudly and – really dragging out the s in guess

DH: I guesssssssssssssss so.
Me: Why are you reading that anyway? You just bought an old car?
DH: Yes but now I need parts for the car.
Me: MmmmHmmm

Side note: This car restoration thing DH is fixated on is also taking away from my DISboard time because he’s always online now looking for parts.

He asked me if we could take a side trip on our way to WDW to Jegs so he could check out tunnel rams – whatever they are??? I told him if he was taking me to the world, we could stop anywhere he wishes along the way. I also asked him since he mentioned making stops if we could stop at a few clothing outlets as well. Gotta get my shopping in!!!

Me: Let’s go over our ADR’s again because I think I’d like to change our Sci-Fi dinner for something else.
DH: Haven’t you already changed our ADR’s?
Me: Not since I’ve confirmed them.
DH: What do you have in mind?
Me: I’m thinking I’d like to try the Spirit of Aloha dinner show.
DH: Another dinner show? Is that like Hoop-Dee-Doo with the free beer?
Me: Yes, same idea but different atmosphere

DH gets his Homer Simpson look

DH: Free beer??? Woohoo! Sounds good to me.

Yesterday I called to change my Monday Sci-Fi reservation for the dinner show and was surprised to learn they don’t offer this on Sunday or Monday. Then I tried for Tuesday and nothing was available. I tried for Wednesday, same thing. I went through the entire week with the CM with no luck. It’s all booked.

Now I’m making a 7th draft of my calendar because I messed up the last one writing in the new plans that will never be.

It’s a good thing I made my ADR’s when I did. What a disappointment it would be if we couldn’t get into some of the restaurants we had our hearts set on.

 

[KatGarcia]

I laugh because your calendar looks very much like the ones I always make before we go! I keep a copy of everything on the pc for easy printing but i also have a handwritten, draw out calendar I use to tweek anything i may need to! I love how over organized we all are!!!! I have a friend who expressed interest in coming with us this Jan/Feb and I';m like "well by 8/1 I can make ADRs so you have to tell me by then!" I just got a look.

 

[Goofster57]

I prefer wine and mostly red wine or Ceasars

How do you drink a Salad?

Hey! There are 25 of us!!!

Oh, Yeah I forgot about the big balck-out of 83

That's too bad about the Sprit of Aloha dinner; I would like to do that one.

Not for the free beer but the girls doing the Hula, gotta love grass skirts

 

[tiggerwannabe]

...
Really? We're not that fond of it. Well I'm not much of a brewsky drinker to begin with and if I do have a beer, it has to be a Corona with a lime. I prefer wine and mostly red wine or Ceasars

...

If the choice is Moosehead or Budwiser I'll pick the Moose~

Corona is our vacation beverage of choice-gotta have the lime~

Hubby likes wine, I normally do not. I've had Port Wine, I like that, it tastes more like Brandy...his vacation wine is called Hatteras Red.

We are mild beer snobs, I can blame the brewery tours for that one...I am always up for trying out a new microbrewery. Disneyland's microbrewery has my new favorite "Red Trolley."

I am happy to see you keeping a calendar like that ...

I do the same thing except mine is in excel spreadsheet form

 

[wvdislover]

I'm finally all caught up! Life gets crazy around here once swim team starts. Blue, I'll be interested to see how the drive goes. DH and I decided to fly after all. The straw that broke the camel's back was when we drove up to Pittsburgh a few weeks ago (a 4 hr trip). Ten minutes into the drive, DD's 5 and 9 were fighting and wanting to know how much longer it was going to be We had visions of us pushing our daughters around WDW in a double stroller and people asking us why we were pushing dead children around--"well, we promised to bring them to Disneyworld, but DH killed them on the way b/c they were driving him crazy!!!" We love our girls and would like them to live through the trip, therefore, we're flying. Got tiks on Allegiant flying into Sanford for $573. We're able to fly and stay for 2 more nights for the same price it would have cost us to fly Delta into MCO No complaints here--WDW for 9 1/2 days!!!

 

[Montana Disney Fan]

Tigger, our vacation beverage used to be Corona also.

We've progressed on to wine, then margarita's, and finally to shots of pure grain alcohol or mouthwash.

Ok blue, since you know I’m the A-Typical male and only read things “selectively”, you’ll have to tell me whatever happened to your plan of driving part way and flying the rest. I missed that change along our journeys together.

Your calendar also reminded me of WDW. I put the park we’re going to each day along with the time of each and every Priority Seating arrangement and also the confirmation number. Since we usually switch hotels, I put the hotel information for both on there as well.

The sad part about my calendar is that it also includes what time we need to wake up and then an “out the door” time in order to make the daily “rope-drop”. It’s important to me that we make the rope-drop each and every day. Linnie has issues with this.

I do my calendar on my Palm so I have it at my fingertips at all times via my cell phone. I also have a printed copy that I put on the fridge in our room with my Stitch magnet.

Do you guys have any crazy & unusual rituals you do at WDW? We have a few:

• We purchase a vase w/ flowers to brighten up our room
• We bring packets of dish washing detergent even though we shop the first day we arrive
• Loud Girl gets to pick the rental car
• I fall off the dance floor at 8-Trax
• Beer & Brats at Sommerfest in the German Pavilion. We always eat these on the picnic benches out by the lagoon


I start my Priority Seating arrangements next week which means I’m under the 100 day mark!! Wooo HOOO!!

 

[Lovemy3babes]

Just got caught up here as well!! My husband would be similar to yours. Mention free beer and a stop for auto parts and he'd be all in baby!!!

 

[blue_river]

I keep a copy of everything on the pc for easy printing but i also have a handwritten, draw out calendar I use to tweek anything i may need to! I love how over organized we all are!!!!

Over organized isn't exaggerating

I would be embarrassed to let my Muggle (DISUNC's word for non-DIS people) friends see any of my plans or let them know how much time I spend putting the trip together

How do you drink a Salad?

This is a bloody caesar. It's a very popular Canadian drink made with vodka, motts clamato juice, dash of worcestershire sauce, dash of tabasco sauce and rim the glass with celery salt.

Not for the free beer but the girls doing the Hula, gotta love grass skirts

I am happy to see you keeping a calendar like that ...

I do the same thing except mine is in excel spreadsheet form

My final copy is done in excel also but this summer I decided to create my own WDW planner in Visual Basic. I haven't gotten too far with it yet but I'll be needing testers and input from users so if you'd like to volunteer please let me know!!

Blue, I'll be interested to see how the drive goes. DH and I decided to fly after all. The straw that broke the camel's back was when we drove up to Pittsburgh a few weeks ago (a 4 hr trip). Ten minutes into the drive, DD's 5 and 9 were fighting and wanting to know how much longer it was going to be We had visions of us pushing our daughters around WDW in a double stroller and people asking us why we were pushing dead children around--"well, we promised to bring them to Disneyworld, but DH killed them on the way b/c they were driving him crazy!!!"

Hello!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, it's been awhile. Great to see you back

about your 4 hour trip with your DD's. (Sorry) I remember trips like that and the closer we get to the date, the more worried I become.

DH and I think they'll be fine on the way down because they'll be happy and excited...it's the drive back that concerns us. JoJo has her cell phone this year and has updated it with MSN. That should keep her busy for hours.

Woohoo to you on the flight and the extra 2 nights in WDW - that alone was worth it

Ok blue, since you know I’m the A-Typical male and only read things “selectively”, you’ll have to tell me whatever happened to your plan of driving part way and flying the rest. I missed that change along our journeys together.

I was outnumbered on that one

Do you guys have any crazy & unusual rituals you do at WDW?

You do realize we've only been ONCE. Guess we'll have to start some rituals

Looks like Hoop-Dee-Doo is one of them.

We brought along packets of dishwashing detergent also - great for cleaning the refillable mugs

We also brought poncho's that were never used because we forgot them the day it rained

and can't forget the glow bracelets that we also forgot to use

Just got caught up here as well!! My husband would be similar to yours. Mention free beer and a stop for auto parts and he'd be all in baby!!!

They'd get along well then!!

Nice of you to stop by again

 

[jodistar]

Wow blue -- just caught up!

You're as bad as me with all of the different versions of plans -- and I do keep all of my sheets, I like to look at them once I get back and see how they've changed. Just a weird little thing that I do.

Can't wait to read the trip report! Not trying to rush your vacation or anything!