Celebrations Galore & Free Dining too! A Sept 2012 PTR (TR started!)

[Disneychix]

Just got caught up with your MiniTR. What a fast and fun weekend!

Do you think you'll be staying in the BW area again? I haven't stayed there since the late 90's. It's funny because we love that area but probably the BIG reason holding us back from staying there is the pricetag!
We do love the Swan/Dolphin and I suppose that's considered the same area

 

[Dancegrl624]

Just got caught up with your MiniTR. What a fast and fun weekend!

Do you think you'll be staying in the BW area again? I haven't stayed there since the late 90's. It's funny because we love that area but probably the BIG reason holding us back from staying there is the pricetag!
We do love the Swan/Dolphin and I suppose that's considered the same area

I LOVED that area! Being able to walk to Epcot (and DHS) is a great selling point. The walk is quite scenic too. I love the International Gateway because it feels like a VIP entrance to me. Not too many people know about it! I would love to stay at the YC/BC someday and I might try to Boardwalk again too. It's so beautiful over there!

 

[Dancegrl624]

Hello everyone. I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. Ours was finally not a crazy one. Tony and Madison went to the movies on Saturday while Cole and I ran errands....our vacuum broke on Saturday while I was using it. Not fun! Anyways....I was able to pick up some shorts for him over the weekend too. $3/pair at Penney's (khaki and navy) and $2.60 at Kohl's (gray)! Yay! I don't want to do any laundry while on vacation, so I could use a few more pairs. He does have some light and dark gray cotton ones that are parts of other outfits that we'll probably bring too.

Anyways....a few weeks back while cutting coupons I saw one for Mickey head soap! I like to bring our own hand soap to WDW because I hate washing my hands with bar soap. I of course had to go buy the cute Mickey soaps!

Aren't they so cute?! The Mickey one is Lemonade and Minnie is Strawberry Fizz. I don't know which one to bring with us!

I really am starting to go crazy around here! There is so much on my to-do list and I feel like I keep adding to it everyday. I did order my Disney Visa Rewards card yesterday and I just ordered a gift card for Madison. We'll transfer money out of her account and that will be her spending money. Of course, we'll buy her things too. I've made all of my mousekeeping/server tip envelopes to. I made an appointment for the Barber Shop for Cole's first haircut and Madison is going to get a trim too. The only time I could get that fit into our schedule is 5pm the day of MNSSHP. Not ideal, but I'm going to try and reschedule in the days leading up to our trip. I also bought some glow bracelets/necklaces at Party City along with a cool spinning light up toy for Cole. I'll bring it with us on the "dark" rides in case he needs a distraction.

Still on the list is outfit planning....I need to pair up shirts with shorts for me, Maddie and Cole. Tony is super easy...he just picks out shirts and shorts the day before I pack and matches while he's getting dressed in the morning. I also need to finalize what we're ordering from Garden Grocer and rent our stroller. Those are definately the main things that need to get done. We'll also need to get some rolls of pennies and quarters for Madison's pressed penny collection, return all our bottles and cans (more spending money!), put a hold on our mail, etc. So overwhelming!!!!! Once I get our outfits figured out I promise I'll post pics! I like to recap our daily plans and post our daily outfits along with them. I PROMISE I'll get going on it!!! School starts a week from tomorrow and at least we're all set with that stuff.

 

[jenny105]

Is there a number to call to make an appointment at the barber shop? Kris just got a haircut and I"m thinking he'll need another one by the time the trip rolls around. He agreed to go to the Main Street Barber Shop! I may as well make an appointment and see if he'll really go during our trip!

I've seen those soaps at the store. Super cute!

You inspired me during our 2010 trip so do daily outfits. I used to just pack everything and decide what to wear there but it saved me a lot of space last trip so I plan to do it again! I think I'm looking forward to that part of packing most. I've been planning my outfits in my head. I just ordered a new pair of sandals, sneakers, and a wristlet for when we go to dinner so I don't have to bring my VB bag. I love vacation shopping!

 

[Fantasyland Mom]

So glad you found some shorts!! I actually ended up buying more for Sawyer from a lady on a community yard sale site, just cotton ones he can (and will) get dirty.

I SO feel you with the overwhelming list! Mine just keeps getting bigger and bigger. I am actually about to go post about that myself.

Do you remember where you clipped the soap coupon from? I'd love that!

 

[Dancegrl624]

Is there a number to call to make an appointment at the barber shop? Kris just got a haircut and I"m thinking he'll need another one by the time the trip rolls around. He agreed to go to the Main Street Barber Shop! I may as well make an appointment and see if he'll really go during our trip!

I've seen those soaps at the store. Super cute!

You inspired me during our 2010 trip so do daily outfits. I used to just pack everything and decide what to wear there but it saved me a lot of space last trip so I plan to do it again! I think I'm looking forward to that part of packing most. I've been planning my outfits in my head. I just ordered a new pair of sandals, sneakers, and a wristlet for when we go to dinner so I don't have to bring my VB bag. I love vacation shopping!

You can call the WDW-DINE number...that's what I did! I told them I needed to make an appt at the barber shop and it was quick and easy. I LOVE that you can make appointments now! Madison had her first haircut there (she was 6, but we had never cut her hair) and we had to wait in a very long line. I think it took us 45 minutes just to get into the chair!

I love planning daily outfits. I'm a total overpacker and this saves me from that. I love waking up each day and knowing what I'm going to wear. Makes life a lot easier and less hectic. It helps with Madison too. I line her outfits up by day in a drawer (I also write it down in my notebook). Tony is a minimalist packer so that's good too. I will definately have to overpack for Cole though. He's a very neat little boy (thanks to my obsessiveness) and he only gets dirty when he dribbles juice or milk down his chin. I always put a bib on him when he eats...I like his clothes to last!

So glad you found some shorts!! I actually ended up buying more for Sawyer from a lady on a community yard sale site, just cotton ones he can (and will) get dirty.

I SO feel you with the overwhelming list! Mine just keeps getting bigger and bigger. I am actually about to go post about that myself.

Do you remember where you clipped the soap coupon from? I'd love that!

I was really starting to freak out about the shorts situation. I think we should be ok. He has some other shorts I forgot about too....a pair of navy "mesh" gym shorts, navy linen shorts....lots of navy!!!

I'm a total list maker, but lately I have lists all over my house! One on my desk, one on my mirror (I keep post-it notes on my dresser and desk) and one in my notebook. AH!

I clipped it from my weekly Sunday newspaper coupons. I know it was at least 2 or 3 weeks ago. They're not expensive though...somewhere around $3 each at my local Target. They only had Minnie when I looked the first time, but a few days later they had Mickey back in stock.

 

[princess_momma]

Why have I never seen those Mickey & Minnie hand soaps?!?! They are so adorable.

It is so crazy to me that you had to wait 45 minutes for Madison's haircut! I totally understand why you want to make a reservation for that! I have never waited more than 10 minutes for Landon and he's gotten a hair cut 2 out of 3 trips. Maybe even if you can't get a better appointment before you go, you could stop by when you're in the MK and see if they have any time?

Can't believe you are so close!

 

[Disneychix]

Cute soaps! I have also seen them at Babies/Toys R Us by the baby soap aisle. I haven't ever seen a coupon for them though!

We made an appt for Riley at the Barber Shop too. We have cut his hair at home but this will be his 1st 'official' haircut! We land at 9am and I made the appt for 12pm! I want to get it done right away to get that hair off his head! Poor Brady was bald until he was 2! We got his 1st haircut at the Barber Shop at 26 months!

 

[Dancegrl624]

Why have I never seen those Mickey & Minnie hand soaps?!?! They are so adorable.

It is so crazy to me that you had to wait 45 minutes for Madison's haircut! I totally understand why you want to make a reservation for that! I have never waited more than 10 minutes for Landon and he's gotten a hair cut 2 out of 3 trips. Maybe even if you can't get a better appointment before you go, you could stop by when you're in the MK and see if they have any time?

Can't believe you are so close!

Aren't the soaps the cutest?! I just had to have them.

It was nuts how long we waited. I remember eating at CP at 8am and then rushing to the barber shop as soon as we finished eating. The line was out the door! I will keep trying to change the appt, but like you mentioned, I'll walk up to the barber shop if I see there isn't much of a line.

I can't believe it either! I did get a few more things crossed off my to do list yesterday. I need to tackle the outfit thing asap!

Cute soaps! I have also seen them at Babies/Toys R Us by the baby soap aisle. I haven't ever seen a coupon for them though!

We made an appt for Riley at the Barber Shop too. We have cut his hair at home but this will be his 1st 'official' haircut! We land at 9am and I made the appt for 12pm! I want to get it done right away to get that hair off his head! Poor Brady was bald until he was 2! We got his 1st haircut at the Barber Shop at 26 months!

I have never looked for them at Babies/Toys R Us! Good to know they have them there too. I saw the coupon a few weeks ago and snapped it up. Then, when I went to buy the soap, someone left a spare coupon there! Thanks random stranger!

Cole has never had his haircut and it's getting kind of long. I love his curls though! Madison was a bald baby too; so were me and my sisters. There is such a big difference between our 1 year and 2 year old pictures. Our hair just sprouted!

 

[lurkernj]

Oh, those mickey soaps are just too cute! I think I've seen them at Target too.

You're scaring me with all your packing talk. I've not done much at all, and I leave shortly after you. Maybe this weekend I'll do some preliminary stuff. It's hard to pack clothes, since we're all still wearing most of them.

I can't wait to see you're photos of your outfits as your earlier pics were really cute.

 

[BearcatsFan]

Glad you were able to find some shorts so easily - you know all about my clothes-finding saga. Look forward to seeing the photos of your matched outfits.

I am totally loving the soaps! I've seen those at Target, but I just bought a plain old Softsoap one to take with us. Now I'm rethinking that ...

I'm with ya on the to-do list. No matter how much I do, it seems to just get longer and longer and longer ....

 

[Dancegrl624]

Oh, those mickey soaps are just too cute! I think I've seen them at Target too.

You're scaring me with all your packing talk. I've not done much at all, and I leave shortly after you. Maybe this weekend I'll do some preliminary stuff. It's hard to pack clothes, since we're all still wearing most of them.

I can't wait to see you're photos of your outfits as your earlier pics were really cute.

I love my Mickey soaps! They make me so happy....I know, I'm a nutcase.

Don't worry....I haven't packed a single thing yet! I cannot pack until the day before we leave. I've always been like that and it just keeps me organized. I can pack everything on that one day and know I'm not forgetting anything. We're still wearing all of our shorts that will be coming on the trip and it would make me crazy if I had shirts packed and not the matching shorts.

I can't wait to get my outfits organized!!! It really is making me stress.

Glad you were able to find some shorts so easily - you know all about my clothes-finding saga. Look forward to seeing the photos of your matched outfits.

I am totally loving the soaps! I've seen those at Target, but I just bought a plain old Softsoap one to take with us. Now I'm rethinking that ...

I'm with ya on the to-do list. No matter how much I do, it seems to just get longer and longer and longer ....

It wasn't too easy...I had been searching for awhile. I will still be on the hunt...I think I might hit up ON today. I'm also desperately looking for a plain yellow t-shirt for Cole. I'll say why in a later post!

Our outfits certainly don't match one another, but I TRY to match the park/restaurant of the day. We do park hop, so I try to match one of the parks. I had a hard time with that this trip though. Not sure why.

Go get some Mickey soap! I had regular Dial soap with us on our last trip.

The to do list is starting to stress me out a little less. I like to put dates next to certain items. For example..charge phone, ipod, camera, etc- 9/17. I don't get as overwhelmed by my list if I assign certain dates for things!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

I may have already said this, but we had those same Mickey soaps for a while,..and I usually pack a pump soap too!!! it's just easier!

 

[BearcatsFan]

Oooh can't wait to hear about the details on this must-have plain yellow shirt!

 

[Dancegrl624]

I may have already said this, but we had those same Mickey soaps for a while,..and I usually pack a pump soap too!!! it's just easier!

I love those soaps! Pump soaps are so much easier in the room. Like I said...I hate using bar soap to wash my hands. Just feels icky to me.

Oooh can't wait to hear about the details on this must-have plain yellow shirt!

Hahaha....I finally found one online. I was sick of going from store to store. I bought 2 on Amazon last night. I didn't know what size to get, so that's why I bought 2 shirts. They'll be here by Sept 11th at the latest....a week before we leave!

 

[gellybean]

Hey Meghan! Jumping over from my PTR! Went back and read all your posts!! Your plans sounds awesome!!! We have a lot of overlapping ADRs so can't wait to read your TR! Our dates are so close! Y'all leave the day we arrive, maybe we'll pass each other in the airport??

The only suggestion I have re: your shirts is pack EXTRA! Especially if you aren't planning on doing laundry. I am packing two shirts a day for me and 3 outfits a day for Violet (who turned one in May so she's really close in age to Cole ) Our little ones are thankfully mostly over the whole spitting up thing, but when traveling with little kids, no matter how careful you are with sticky hands, it's inevitable that you'll get a few smears on your clothes from them. And if you are going back to the room between parks and dinner plans, it's so nice to have a change of shirt to freshen up after being sweaty all day and to de-stain yourself! Violet's still a drooler, plus messy eater so we are packing her lots of changes too and will take at least one change a day in the park with us for her. I may be packing an extra t-shirt in the park bag for me too!! We'll have to see how it goes!!

Love all your shopping haul!! Gonna make for some amazing pics!!!


We are so close now!!!! YAY!!

 

[Lovemy3babes]

You are the Queen Disney Shopper, Meghan! Seriously. Did you get the hand soaps at Target?

 

[Dancegrl624]

Hey Meghan! Jumping over from my PTR! Went back and read all your posts!! Your plans sounds awesome!!! We have a lot of overlapping ADRs so can't wait to read your TR! Our dates are so close! Y'all leave the day we arrive, maybe we'll pass each other in the airport??

The only suggestion I have re: your shirts is pack EXTRA! Especially if you aren't planning on doing laundry. I am packing two shirts a day for me and 3 outfits a day for Violet (who turned one in May so she's really close in age to Cole ) Our little ones are thankfully mostly over the whole spitting up thing, but when traveling with little kids, no matter how careful you are with sticky hands, it's inevitable that you'll get a few smears on your clothes from them. And if you are going back to the room between parks and dinner plans, it's so nice to have a change of shirt to freshen up after being sweaty all day and to de-stain yourself! Violet's still a drooler, plus messy eater so we are packing her lots of changes too and will take at least one change a day in the park with us for her. I may be packing an extra t-shirt in the park bag for me too!! We'll have to see how it goes!!

Love all your shopping haul!! Gonna make for some amazing pics!!!


We are so close now!!!! YAY!!

Thanks for coming over! I love having readers.

Normally I would pack extra shirts, but I just can't! I would need a ton of suitcases. Plus, I have no back up Disney shirts. I was just trying all of my outfits on last night and I don't even like how half of my shirts look on me. Now I'm trying to find NEW shirts....that might not happen though. Thankfully, Cole is a very clean little guy and I hope he keeps that up. I am bringing TONS of clothes for him though. I also bought some packets of Tide last week just in case I have to do a little laundry. I plan on bringing a back up outfit for him when we go into the parks. I've stopped doing that at home, but at Disney you never know!

When we go back to the room to swim/nap, I usually throw my pajama shirt back on to sleep. That way, I don't wrinkle my nice park shirt.

I LOVE shopping for Disney trips! Picking out what we're going to wear is half the fun!

20 more days!

You are the Queen Disney Shopper, Meghan! Seriously. Did you get the hand soaps at Target?

Hahaha...I'll gladly take that title! I did get the soap at Target. It was right in the soap aisle but closer to the kids soap.

 

[BearcatsFan]

Glad to hear you were able to find a yellow shirt! Good tip about putting the pj top back on when you go back for a mid-day rest, too. Hadn't even thought of that. We'll be doing the mid-day breaks this year and I was planning just to try and find some extra shirts to pack since everything would be all wrinkly afterwards. This way I won't have to!

 

[Dancegrl624]

Glad to hear you were able to find a yellow shirt! Good tip about putting the pj top back on when you go back for a mid-day rest, too. Hadn't even thought of that. We'll be doing the mid-day breaks this year and I was planning just to try and find some extra shirts to pack since everything would be all wrinkly afterwards. This way I won't have to!

Glad I could help! I like being able to go back to the room and put on a nice cool shirt. The shirt has been sitting in the air conditioning all morning and it feels so nice! Most of my pj shirts are super old so they are really soft too. I love my naps!