Disney w/ my girlfriend and my parents for 7 days. Woop woop! April/May '09

[TeaForTulips]

Hey, Tarah! Love the tattoos! I really like the star on your wrist. It's so pretty and colorful. And the tulip looks so elegant. I'd love to get a tattoo, probably somewhere on my foot or on my back, but I just don't know of a design I would want to get that I wouldn't regret later! Maybe one day....

Sorry to hear about your brother in law. Anything that has to do with the colon is never pretty. Here's some get-well pixie dust to send his way.

You're right, Hallise DOES look like an Easter egg in that outfit! And a very cute Easter egg at that! The picture of her and her bubby is too cute for words. (In our house, bubby=brother BTW. Just in case you were going, "What the heck is a bubby? )

I can't wait for the next update!

Thanks! My brother in law is home now and doing better but has to still "recover" over the next week. He is glad he can eat now though! We are having a cook out this weekend for him. I'm glad you agree about Hallise! I was laughing so hard when I saw her, but my mom just thot she was cute as ever in a non-easter fashion.

Cutest Easter egg I've ever seen!! Hope everyone in your direction feels better soon!

Thanks! I'm so proud of my neice and nephew! I can't help, but share them. Mario (bil) is doing better! Now my nephew has caught what my neice had.... bleh. We are trying to make sure it doesnt keep getting passed. My sister is on overload with a sick family...

 

[TeaForTulips]

Alrighty so I have a minor Disney update... it is slightly random and about odd things, but you guys don't mind right?

Here is my lovely disney notebook that I am using to assist my planning organization...

Here is my spreadsheet of our dates... I know you cant read it, but just sharing. It notes the times of the parks, parade, shows, etc. Photobucket is not my friend this morning, so I apologize for any sideways pictures.

I did this yesterday ... I made some Mouse Keeping Tip envelopes. I ordered some Disney stickers off ebay... they are very simple but I thot it was better than nothing. I also have lots of these stickers left and anyone would like them for any Disney project or Disney child? I can mail them to you. Theres lots of princess ones, some Nemo ones, and some mickey mouse clubhouse ones.

On to a packing question ... does anyone use space bags? I use them at home for big things in my closet like blankets, etc. We were talking about maybe using them to assist in condensing our clothes for Disney.

I use the normal kind at home in lots of sizes... It wouldnt be a big deal to bring our air pump that would suck the air out of them on the way home...its small.

But I see online that they make travel versions too ...

Has anyone ever used these before?


And I will end on a shopping note... I sell AVON and we just put these pajames on sale. The picture may be hard to tell but the cherries are all mickey heads... I ordered some for me and marmee. yay!

I told you... minor and random. Hope everyone is having a good Wednesday!

 

[HeatherBelle614]

Yay; I love random posts!

The jammies are so cute!! Do you mind asking me what they cost?

I haven't used a space saver bag, so no tips. Sorry!

And, I love how organized you are! I know I'm going to be doing the same thing when our park hours get posted!

If you really wouldn't mind sharing your stickers, I'm going to make a countdown chain for my mom's daycare kids to help her countdown after we surprise her. I was planning on buying some stickers to decorate the paper, so I'd definitely put any extras you have to great use!!!

 

[TeaForTulips]

Yay; I love random posts!

The jammies are so cute!! Do you mind asking me what they cost?

I haven't used a space saver bag, so no tips. Sorry!

And, I love how organized you are! I know I'm going to be doing the same thing when our park hours get posted!

If you really wouldn't mind sharing your stickers, I'm going to make a countdown chain for my mom's daycare kids to help her countdown after we surprise her. I was planning on buying some stickers to decorate the paper, so I'd definitely put any extras you have to great use!!!

The jammies are $12.99 for S-XL sizing and $17.99 for 1X-3X sizing. I thot they were cute too.

I hope your hours get posted soon! I went crazy until ours got posted!

I wouldnt mind sending you my extra stickers! I ended up with so many and only used a few. PM me your info and I'll send them your way.

 

[jewels1916]

Hi Tarah! Just popped in from Enchanted's PTR and got all caught up on yours!

Seeing you and your sister commenting back and forth makes me miss my sis!! She and I are 7 years apart in age (she's younger) but we are very close. Distance-wise, I've been living away from home since she was 11 years old, so I miss her a lot. Luckily, after 6 years away, I am moving back to Texas! Yay!

I love your DISigns that you got! So cute! I can spend hours on that board, just going through stuff, though I must admit, sometimes it can make me feel remarkably un-talented.

In reading your PTR it seems that you and I are alot alike in our planning! When I am ready to plan, I sit down with my books and my calculator, and do a hundred different calculations, based on all possible discounts to see what comes out to be the least expensive!

Ah, I wish I was hanging out with YOU on Mardi Gras! I love jello shots, and good ones are hard to come by! There was only one bar in my college town that made them (correctly) and they served them in big plastic syringes. *sigh, memories*

I'm subbing, and I can't wait to read your next update! Oh, and be sure to welcome Jen to the Disney Dark Side! I don't know about cookies, but we sure do have Mickey-shaped rice krispie treats!

 

[Enchanted]

Awwww, the Mousekeeping envelopes are so cute! Great idea using the stickers to make them all Disney-fied!

I've never used a Space Bag so I'm not much help in that area. I should probably look into them though, 'cause Lord knows I take way too much luggage these days....

And the cherry PJs are ADORABLE! What a deal! Everybody's getting such cute stuff for their trips!

 

[TeaForTulips]

Hi Tarah! Just popped in from Enchanted's PTR and got all caught up on yours!

Seeing you and your sister commenting back and forth makes me miss my sis!! She and I are 7 years apart in age (she's younger) but we are very close. Distance-wise, I've been living away from home since she was 11 years old, so I miss her a lot. Luckily, after 6 years away, I am moving back to Texas! Yay!

I love your DISigns that you got! So cute! I can spend hours on that board, just going through stuff, though I must admit, sometimes it can make me feel remarkably un-talented.

In reading your PTR it seems that you and I are alot alike in our planning! When I am ready to plan, I sit down with my books and my calculator, and do a hundred different calculations, based on all possible discounts to see what comes out to be the least expensive!

Ah, I wish I was hanging out with YOU on Mardi Gras! I love jello shots, and good ones are hard to come by! There was only one bar in my college town that made them (correctly) and they served them in big plastic syringes. *sigh, memories*

I'm subbing, and I can't wait to read your next update! Oh, and be sure to welcome Jen to the Disney Dark Side! I don't know about cookies, but we sure do have Mickey-shaped rice krispie treats!

That made me laugh out loud! My sister and I have this "Disney Dark Side we have cookies" thing going and we just cant let it go!
Jen has gotten more and more excited about Disney! Yay! We recently started watching that Extreme Makeover Home Edition show where they send everyone to Disney World! She cries like every show.. of course the stories are touching, but I tell her that Disney World makes everyone better. She just doesnt understand or know what to expect. I cannot explain how I excited I am for her.

I actually just got through reading your report too! We really are alike!
With you moving to Texas maybe next year you can come Mardi Gras with us or visa versa! Dallas is only 2.5-3 hours away from me and I must say... my jello shots were sooooo yummy!

I'm glad you'll be moving back closer to your sister! My sister is my best friend and I would be lost without her!

 

[autumnpalm]

I LOVE your Mousekeeping envelopes! I am totally going to make some for our trip.

Cute jammies! I wonder if they sell them in Canada?

I've never used Space Bags but if they work they would be awesome for packing. I hope someone has tried them and can tell us!

 

[TxRabbit]

All y'all's sister talk almost makes me sad. I don't have a sister. Or brother. I'm an only. Normally, I'm good like that. Especially when I have to deal with DHs sisters. He has three.

Aaaanyywayyy, I feel like the only one with space bag experience! I have used the travel bags. Only because one or two came free in the pack that I bought. One still works even. Maybe. The thing about the space bags is that I tried to over stuff them. And they didn't work. They blew out. And now they don't work anymore. So, I can tell you from experience, don't overstuff them.

The travel ones are cool because you roll them up on themselves and that forces all the air out through the one way valve. The ones I got were a small size and I couldn't fit things into them so easily. And when it was all said and done, the Ziploc bags worked almost as good for a whole lot cheaper. So I never bought anymore space bags.

The best Ziploc bags are the two gallon ones. Sometimes they are hard to find, but the two gallon ones are really better for clothes packing. When I pack with bags, I typically pack an entire outfit in the bag. I do it for DH and for DS too. Then I can easily mix up all the outfits across all the bags so that everyone has one or two outfits in each bag. Then I make some extras, with extra shirts, undies, etc. You get the idea.

The key is a straw. Pack your bag and then seal the bag to the end where you have the straw inserted. Now suck out all the air. Quickly pull out the straw while you finish zipping the bag. Works great. Almost better than space bags because the bags are bigger.

And thus ends my mini disertation (sp?) on the merits of travel space bags.

 

[TeaForTulips]

I LOVE your Mousekeeping envelopes! I am totally going to make some for our trip.

Cute jammies! I wonder if they sell them in Canada?

I've never used Space Bags but if they work they would be awesome for packing. I hope someone has tried them and can tell us!

Thanks! I've seen those MouseKeeping envelopes that you can print and fold online, but I just wasn't feeling them... not that mine are grand, but I am satisfied.

All y'all's sister talk almost makes me sad. I don't have a sister. Or brother. I'm an only. Normally, I'm good like that. Especially when I have to deal with DHs sisters. He has three.

Aaaanyywayyy, I feel like the only one with space bag experience! I have used the travel bags. Only because one or two came free in the pack that I bought. One still works even. Maybe. The thing about the space bags is that I tried to over stuff them. And they didn't work. They blew out. And now they don't work anymore. So, I can tell you from experience, don't overstuff them.

The travel ones are cool because you roll them up on themselves and that forces all the air out through the one way valve. The ones I got were a small size and I couldn't fit things into them so easily. And when it was all said and done, the Ziploc bags worked almost as good for a whole lot cheaper. So I never bought anymore space bags.

The best Ziploc bags are the two gallon ones. Sometimes they are hard to find, but the two gallon ones are really better for clothes packing. When I pack with bags, I typically pack an entire outfit in the bag. I do it for DH and for DS too. Then I can easily mix up all the outfits across all the bags so that everyone has one or two outfits in each bag. Then I make some extras, with extra shirts, undies, etc. You get the idea.

The key is a straw. Pack your bag and then seal the bag to the end where you have the straw inserted. Now suck out all the air. Quickly pull out the straw while you finish zipping the bag. Works great. Almost better than space bags because the bags are bigger.

And thus ends my mini disertation (sp?) on the merits of travel space bags.

o-m-g! Thanks, Rabbit!

I use Space Bags at home, but have never used them to travel. The ziplocs with the straw is such a fantastic idea! I am going to try this... I am a serious over packer and thot it would come in handy, but I didn't want to buy them/bring them and then regret it. Yay!

Don't be sad to be the only child! I will be your DIS Sis. And trust me, there have been plenty of times where me and my sister wanted to kill each other!

 

[jewels1916]

That made me laugh out loud! My sister and I have this "Disney Dark Side we have cookies" thing going and we just cant let it go!
Jen has gotten more and more excited about Disney! Yay! We recently started watching that Extreme Makeover Home Edition show where they send everyone to Disney World! She cries like every show.. of course the stories are touching, but I tell her that Disney World makes everyone better. She just doesnt understand or know what to expect. I cannot explain how I excited I am for her.

I actually just got through reading your report too! We really are alike!
With you moving to Texas maybe next year you can come Mardi Gras with us or visa versa! Dallas is only 2.5-3 hours away from me and I must say... my jello shots were sooooo yummy!

I'm glad you'll be moving back closer to your sister! My sister is my best friend and I would be lost without her!

Mardi Gras. Next year. It's a plan.
It's going to be so fun for you to see do Disney with Jen for her first time. I tear up when I see people experiencing it for the first time, especially the look they get when they first see the castle. It's so great!

All y'all's sister talk almost makes me sad. I don't have a sister. Or brother. I'm an only. Normally, I'm good like that. Especially when I have to deal with DHs sisters. He has three.

Aaaanyywayyy, I feel like the only one with space bag experience! I have used the travel bags. Only because one or two came free in the pack that I bought. One still works even. Maybe. The thing about the space bags is that I tried to over stuff them. And they didn't work. They blew out. And now they don't work anymore. So, I can tell you from experience, don't overstuff them.

The travel ones are cool because you roll them up on themselves and that forces all the air out through the one way valve. The ones I got were a small size and I couldn't fit things into them so easily. And when it was all said and done, the Ziploc bags worked almost as good for a whole lot cheaper. So I never bought anymore space bags.

The best Ziploc bags are the two gallon ones. Sometimes they are hard to find, but the two gallon ones are really better for clothes packing. When I pack with bags, I typically pack an entire outfit in the bag. I do it for DH and for DS too. Then I can easily mix up all the outfits across all the bags so that everyone has one or two outfits in each bag. Then I make some extras, with extra shirts, undies, etc. You get the idea.

The key is a straw. Pack your bag and then seal the bag to the end where you have the straw inserted. Now suck out all the air. Quickly pull out the straw while you finish zipping the bag. Works great. Almost better than space bags because the bags are bigger.

And thus ends my mini disertation (sp?) on the merits of travel space bags.

It's ok Rabbit! Tarah and I can be your DisSisters! And I can gurantee, we won't "borrow without the intent of returning" your clothes/shoes/jewelry, we won't hog the bathroom, and we will not steal your diary for show and tell.

But we can talk about movies, clothes, makeup, hair, relationships, and all those other things that sisters are good for!

 

[HeatherBelle614]

Just popping in to say hello! Have a great Saturday!!

 

[autumnpalm]

I'm following you everywhere with the "hellos", Heather!

But... hi!

 

[TeaForTulips]

Just popping in to say hello! Have a great Saturday!!

I'm following you everywhere with the "hellos", Heather!

But... hi!

Hello! Thanks, guys! I was sick all weekend! Bleh. I am doing better, but it is a crazy busy day at work! I will have to catch up on everyone's reports tomorrow!

Oh and I actually did a day count...

53 days! Yay!

 

[Angela0917]

Woo hoo! 57 days for me!

Isn't it so exciting to be able to say "I'm going to Disney World NEXT MONTH!!"??

 

[TeaForTulips]

Woo hoo! 57 days for me!

Isn't it so exciting to be able to say "I'm going to Disney World NEXT MONTH!!"??

Yes! I don't know why I didn't count days sooner... it is so much better!

 

[TeaForTulips]

I'm not sure why, I guess to make it seem more organized... I typed up my packing list so far. It doesn't include the obvious clothes and things, but other than that.... if this does not interest you please feel free to skip.

o Shampoo
o Conditioner
o Deodorant
o Perfume
o Soap
o Toothbrush
o Toothpaste
o Hairbrush
o Hair Ties
o Hair Products
o Bobby Pins
o Razor
o Q Tips
o Make Up
o Nyquil
o Tylonel
o Ibuprofen
o Excedrin
o Soma
o Zantac
o Asprin
o Sleeping Pills (Yes, I am bringing the pharmacy, but I have chronic headaches and migraines and Jen has fibromyalgia and chronic heart burn... so we are bound to use it. Also, we are a group that snores... so I am coming prepared to sleep! )
o Nose Strips
o Throat Strips
o Ear Plugs
o Moleskin
o Band Aids
o Baby Wipes (I put these in the backpack, it can be so refreshing and cooling to wipe your face when you are hot and yucky)
o Chapstick
o Kleenex
o Glow Sticks (I plan to bring the fun... not buy it )
o Body Glide
o Sunscreen
o Pillows
o Blankets
o Dual DVD Player
o Single DVD Player
o Nintendo DS
o DS Charger
o Cell Chargers
o Camera
o Battery Charger
o Laptop
o Power Strip
o Disposable Ponchos
o Baseball Caps
o MouseKeeping Envelopes
o Coffee Pot
o Coffee
o Filters
o Disposable To Go Cups (My marmee will need her coffee, so my idea is to make it in the room and use the cups so she can just throw them away when shes done in the parks!)
o Coolers
o Diet Dr. Pepper (Jen cannot live without)
o Water
o Goldfish
o Honeycombs
o Granola/Fruit Bars
o Ziploc Bags
o Garbage Bags (they just seem to come in handy sometimes)
o Lanyards
o Fans
o Beach Towels

And there ya have it so far...
Anyone have any good packing ideas for the hotels or parks?

 

[TeaForTulips]

I miscounted before.. and today is the 50 day mark! Woohoo!

In other random news... I just ordered some new crocs off ebay for a lovely $13.85 including shipping!

My thought is to bring different shoes to wear... I am really a flip flop kinda gal. I am debating on the crocs flip flops or the teva mush flops. I am leaning towards the teva since I will already have these crocs. The crocs I own now are navy blue from when I work at the local hospital... our shoes had to be black, blue, or brown... i wish they would make the disney croc flip flop in more colors than olive green! has anyone else wondered about that?


Turning the subject to my lovely little neice Hallise... I took some pictures of her the other day in this adorable fluffy skirt I found on clearance at old navy. I havent gone thru all them but here are my faves so far.... Her eyes are still blue and I want to find the program that will let me turn it black and white and keep her blue eyes... so again... here is a proud aunt moment.

Yay Princess Hallise Claire! If she was only laughing or smiling in the last pictures it would have been perfect.. still I think i got some super cute ones!

I hope everyone is having a magical Wednesday!

 

[TeaForTulips]

THE PLAN:

Thursday April 23rd:
Everyone but my dad is working this day... *jealous!* After work, me and Jen are gonna pack it all up and go stay the night at my parents house. My Dad will get the rental van this day too.
Friday April 24th:
We leave before the crack of dawn! ... We have not specified a time just yet, but it will be early, early, early! Then we will drive as close to Disney as possible. We will just stay in whatever decent hotel we can find.
Saturday April 25th:
Wake up and go to Epcot! It is AM EMH so we will try to be there on time when they open up at 8. I know this day we will be tired from driving so Im sure we will take it slow. We will have another day at Epcot later.
Sunday April 26th:
Magic Kindgom! Hooray! I really think Epcot will end up being Jens favorite park...but I am super excited for her to go to the magic kindgom. I think no matter what your fave park is- the magic kingdom will always give everyone that special feeling. I tear up thinking about it! This will also be PM EMH so I think we may even take a break for lunch here, hit the pool maybe...
Monday April 27th:
Animal Kingdom! It is Animal Kingdom AM EMH ... I wanna get there for rope drop! Last time we went for rope drop and I was walking along and all of a sudden there was something furry in my hand... It was Turk from Tarzan! It made my day! I am super excited to ride Everest too! Since AK closes at 5 I think this will be when we explore DTD fot the first time... I am not putting anything in stone though.
Tusday April 28th:
Back to Epcot we go! (my scheduling is based on EMH and due to show times like Fantasmic and the Spectro Parade) This will again be AM EMH. I am super excited for the Flower & Garden Festival!
Wednesday April 29th:
Hollywood Studios! My beloved MGM ... After reading TRs I know one of the first things we will be doing is getting fast passes for TSM! This is not EMH but Fantasmic is scheduled tonight!
Thursday April 30th:
Back to MK! Hooray! This time it is AM EMH. Spectro Parade is on both nights of our MK days... I am hoping which ever night we dont watch we can get some short wait times! Also, my moms fave thing ever is here... the Swiss Family Robinson Tree House... she has talked about it for so long that Jen is ready to see it! My mom wants to live there.
Friday May 1st:
This day is wide open. Whatever we all wanna do we will do... I am assuming we will park hop. It is PM EMH for Epcot.. we will prolly go back to DTD. We will also pack this day.
Saturday May 2nd:
I was born in Jacksonville, FL and my family still has good friends there. This morning we will wake up and drive there and stay with some old family friends. I am excited to see them again. It has been a super long time. I am also excited for Jen to meet them. Jen & I are serious beach people. The fact that we will be driving by Pensacola twice on this trip and not stopping is soooo hard to deal with. (I also lived there and we vacation there a lot) so this day we will go to Jacksonville Beach ... not the same but still beach.
Sunday May 3rd:
Wake up... again before the crack of dawn! and drive home... We will drive home in one day. Everyone but again my dad has to work Monday... we will be exhausted but I know I dont have to explain to any DISers that the exhaustion is well worth 7 days at Disney!

Now... I am crossing my fingers that Disney doesn't get all tricky and change the schedules over and over again. To keep my sanity, I am not checking the schedule that much. I will of course make sure what I have is accurate before we go, but if I check it everyday I will go nuts.

and Ta Da! That is our plan!

 

[shordiebecka]

your plan sounds so good so far!!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE your pink crocs. I am obsessed with all things pink, and also obsessed with mary jane crocs. I cannot find them anywhere, where did you find them! DBF thinks they're ugly but they are SO comfy!