Everything is Satisfactual - A TR (9/22-9/31) Updated 12/9 Last Day

[Tinkerbellarella]

Is it too early to start packing yet?

::sigh:: I wonder the same thing myself. Every day.

I bought my Lush solid shampoo for the trip. This can also double up as my body soap so will cut down on how much I have to pack. Plus as it's solid so I can carry it with no worries in my carry on bag. I absolutely adore the stuff. I shopped at my first Lush store at the Orlando airport last year and got hooked. Definitely a dangerous place for my wallet.

I love the idea of LUSH. Unfortunately, everytime I go in there I last all of 35 seconds before I end up with a migraine and need to leave.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Looking at your list, I think you still have quite a few things to keep yourself busy -- I think you should definitely try the tyedye t-shirts so I can decide if I want to do them.

 

[Lady Lallie]

s it too early to start packing yet?

No. It's never too early. I have been contemplating to start as well.

Lately I've been feeling as if I'm running out of things to do before my trip. I know this makes no sense to anyone but me, but normally I'm running around like a nut until the very last minute trying to get everything done. This time I'm feeling like all the big stuff is done. It must be my fellow Lapuette's being a good influence on me.

Reason# 7,658 that the DIS is wonderful.

Sunday I also finally stopped procrastinating and ordered my tickets for the first two days before my package kicks in. I ordered them from Undercover Tourist and got a pretty good deal with the Mousesavers discount. I did a little shopping around and they really were the best price I could find. I ended up going with a 5 day, non expiring, non hopper pass. That will cover my first 2 days this year, and then 3 days towards a solo weekend trip next December. I wasn't sure about adding the park hopper option, so I figured that I could always add that next December when I would need it. I actually would have preferred a 6 day pass so I'd have 4 days next year, but that UT didn't have that option. The deal for the 5 day pass was good so I just went with it. I'll just deal with next year's trip next year.

You can always add days can't you? I am a little fuzzy on this pertaining to our 1 day tickets we had to buy for our WL portion of the trip...must find out.

I also took care of a few smaller things this week. I bought my Lush solid shampoo for the trip. This can also double up as my body soap so will cut down on how much I have to pack. Plus as it's solid so I can carry it with no worries in my carry on bag. I absolutely adore the stuff. I shopped at my first Lush store at the Orlando airport last year and got hooked. Definitely a dangerous place for my wallet.

I have never heard of lush. It's solid? I am confused.

I still have a few things to take care of so I'm going to channel our Lady Listy and get my act together.

*Sniff Sniff* Pardon me while I wipe the tear from my eye.

1. Pick up a mail hold form at the post office. Normally when I go away one of my parents would run by and check my mail, but as they will be with me this year I have to make other arrangements. I used to have a wonderful neighbor I'd ask, but she moved and I don't really trust my other neighbors. Much easier just to have them hold it at the post office, and then deliver everything when I return.

If you go to usps.com you can do this online. They only let you do it two weeks in advance but this is what I did when we went to Bermuda. It worked beautifully. They will even deliver it all at the end if you wish.

2. Put in request for my Disney Visa rewards card as soon as the points I earned from purchasing my passes register. I plan on using my rewards points as my personal souvenier money. I don't plan on spending a lot of money on souveniers but I do have a couple of things I'm thinking of buying. Since I work so close to World of Disney it's just silly for me to lug things home on the plane that I can just bring home from work with me. Still I'm thinking of the following souveniers:

I did this last night for DH's card.

3. Make my tip envelopes and get money ready for them before hand. Most of our meals are buffets and family style meals, so I can really have all this stuff ready to go ahead of time. I am figuring my tips for my DDP meals to come up to about $42. I also am planning on another $200 or so for my two OOP meals (Brown Derby and Crystal Palace) as well as my CS meals the first two days, breakfast the day we leave for Disney, and a glass of wine or two at dinner. I just don't want to find myself short in this area. I also need to get tip envelopes made for mousekeeping and for the princess's FGIT.

I think we are all getting fidgety! I am on trip planning overload.

9. Last, but certainly not of least. Go to Home Depot on a mission to liberate Alien Green Mickey heads before they become part of a government conspiracy and get rounded up by Scully and Mulder. Of course their liberation will be short lived as I plan on locking them between two melted pieces of plastic. Last year I didn't laminate my LGMH's and it with the all the rain they were little wadded up bunchs of paper in not time. (And can you tell I'm dying for the new X-Files movie?)

I bought luggage tag laminate thingys at Target. They worked really well for our luggage tags and that is what I am going to use for LGMH. Because I am insane, I like the fact that they are nice and even and you don't have to cut them and risk them not being symmetrical. Plus they have this cool little plastic thingy to attach them.

 

[If U Had Wings]

It sounds like you have everything in order, and are ready to have fun, fun, fun at Disney with the two princesses.

I'm going to see the girls tomorrow. Will have to do my auntly duty and start getting them all hyped up about the trip.

::sigh:: I wonder the same thing myself. Every day.

I think I am going to take out my carry on bag at any rate. I like to have it out so I can just drop things in as I think of them. It's small so I can keep it tucked under my bed and out of site from those who would mock my early packing.

I love the idea of LUSH. Unfortunately, everytime I go in there I last all of 35 seconds before I end up with a migraine and need to leave.

Oddly enough it doesn't bother me too much, although I can't walk into my local Macy's through the main entrance because the perfumes cause the same migraines.

Looking at your list, I think you still have quite a few things to keep yourself busy -- I think you should definitely try the tyedye t-shirts so I can decide if I want to do them.

I'll keep that in mind. I really want to do them, but am very afraid of the mess. It's certainly a project I won't be doing with the girls at my house.

You can always add days can't you? I am a little fuzzy on this pertaining to our 1 day tickets we had to buy for our WL portion of the trip...must find out.

From what I read yes you can, just like I can upgrade the pass to a hopper later by paying Disney the $50. The more I keep thinking of what I want to do on my solo trip the more I think I'm going to really need hopper tickets. With only 3 days it's going to be a tight squeeze. Hoppers would give me a chance to just head to a place like AK to ride the safari and Everest and then still go somewhere else. Normally I like spending the whole day at AK, but with only 3, it's going to be the first to go.

I have never heard of lush. It's solid? I am confused.

Lush is a bath/body products store. Everything is all natural, cruelty free, and many of them are vegan as well. All kinds of goodies.

This is one of their solid shampoos. (The shine formulation). They have a few others as well. I like this one for the shine and the fact that it isn't really scented. I normally go through tons of shampoo with my thick hair, but this lasts for ages. I also, for the first time in years, don't have to use conditioner to get a comb through my hair. I bought my first bar at the Orlando airport last year on the way home from my trip and fell in love with the stuff. Luckily there is one not too far away from my office.

The stuff is a bit pricey, but as it lasts forever I end up saving money in the end. This year I'm stocking up though the week after Christmas. The majority of the stuff in the store is buy one get 2 free that week. I wasn't prepared last year. This year I will be!

If you go to usps.com you can do this online. They only let you do it two weeks in advance but this is what I did when we went to Bermuda. It worked beautifully. They will even deliver it all at the end if you wish.

I didn't know you can do this online now. Like this even better.

I realized last night that I need to add two things on to my list.


10. Buy more transfer paper. Started working on the t's last night and realized that the package only held 5 sheets of paper. I thought it had 10. I think what happened was that the paper for white shirts only had 10 sheets and the colored shirt paper only had 5. I'm doing the designs on white, but the people on the creative board said that the colors come out much better if you use the colored paper shirts.

11. When it gets closer to the trip, exchange info with LL so we can possibly have a meet-up on the 30th.

 

[Lady Lallie]

11. When it gets closer to the trip, exchange info with LL so we can possibly have a meet-up on the 30th.

Yes! I meant to post about that before when I responded.

I forgot...what are your plans for that day? We are arriving and then plan to head to EPCOT.

 

[willwriteforears]

Sunday I also finally stopped procrastinating and ordered my tickets for the first two days before my package kicks in. I ordered them from Undercover Tourist and got a pretty good deal with the Mousesavers discount. I did a little shopping around and they really were the best price I could find. I ended up going with a 5 day, non expiring, non hopper pass. That will cover my first 2 days this year, and then 3 days towards a solo weekend trip next December. I wasn't sure about adding the park hopper option, so I figured that I could always add that next December when I would need it. I actually would have preferred a 6 day pass so I'd have 4 days next year, but that UT didn't have that option. The deal for the 5 day pass was good so I just went with it. I'll just deal with next year's trip next year.

Since my friends and I stayed off-site (cough) we also got our tickets from Undercover Tourist using the mousesavers discounted link. We'd wanted a 6-day option, as well, and noted the lack of it--but since the 7-day was only a dollar more than the 5-day, at the time, anyway, we went with that.

I also took care of a few smaller things this week. I bought my Lush solid shampoo for the trip. This can also double up as my body soap so will cut down on how much I have to pack. Plus as it's solid so I can carry it with no worries in my carry on bag. I absolutely adore the stuff. I shopped at my first Lush store at the Orlando airport last year and got hooked. Definitely a dangerous place for my wallet.

I got solid shampoo at Basin in DTD! I have yet to try it out, though. I'd never before seen solid shampoo, and really bought it just because it looked "neat"--but all the travel pluses you mention are great!

6. Deceide if I want to lug my laptop along with me. This will determine which personal bag I carry. I brought it with me last year, and liked it for watching a movie on the plane, but it's heavy and I don't know if I want to bother. I purchased a video nano ipod this year, so I can always just remove the majority of music from it and put on a few movies instead. Would be much easier to carry, and I could lock it up in the room safe.

I took my laptop with me, but solely because we thought we'd want to access e-mail a couple times during the trip. And we did. But if you don't need Internet access at all, the iPod Nano sounds great!

7. Possibly pick up some new shorts. If I can stick to my diet and drop about 10 lbs or so before the trip, my existing shorts will be fine. If I don't they will be a bit snug. This should be reason enough to stick to the diet, as I certainly would rather not have to waste money on more shorts when I already own plenty.

I hear ya. My next clothes shopping expedition shouldn't be until fall, and honestly I'll need a few new items no matter what, but it'd be far better to get them in a smaller size. But if I had the option of not spending money at all, I think that would be motivation enough to stick to a diet.

If you go to usps.com you can do this online. They only let you do it two weeks in advance but this is what I did when we went to Bermuda. It worked beautifully. They will even deliver it all at the end if you wish.

Yup, that's what I did while I was gone! It was lovely to just have my big stack of mail waiting for me when I got back. I figured if it wouldn't fit in my apartment-size mailbox (but it did), the USPS could use one of the larger package boxes and give me the key for it.

11. When it gets closer to the trip, exchange info with LL so we can possibly have a meet-up on the 30th.

Sniff sniff. You and LL get to meet, TK and Tink get to meet... sadly no one was there at the same time as me.

Again: Lapu Lapu Fabby Fest '09. Lapu Lapu Fabby Fest '09....

 

[Lady Lallie]

Sniff sniff. You and LL get to meet, TK and Tink get to meet... sadly no one was there at the same time as me.

Again: Lapu Lapu Fabby Fest '09. Lapu Lapu Fabby Fest '09....

It warms my heart to see you mention Lapu Lapu Fabby Fest '09 so much in your posts. I am so glad that we are all still trying to plan to make it!!

I have googled Lush and I am intrigued. I need shampoo so I am thinking why not give it a whirl?

 

[If U Had Wings]

Yes! I meant to post about that before when I responded.

I forgot...what are your plans for that day? We are arriving and then plan to head to EPCOT.

My only plans that day are for dinner, and that's not until late. (CG for fireworks ). I've already informed my family that I will probably be running off that day to meet up with a friend of mine. I didn't mention that I've yet to meet this friend, but I dont' think they'd be surprised. I have a good friend of mine that I met through my knitting blog. It was tough to explain the first time though. They were convinced that some kind of crazed looney was going to meet me.

Since my friends and I stayed off-site (cough) we also got our tickets from Undercover Tourist using the mousesavers discounted link. We'd wanted a 6-day option, as well, and noted the lack of it--but since the 7-day was only a dollar more than the 5-day, at the time, anyway, we went with that.

I hadn't even thought of a 7 day option. Where in the world is my mind?

I got solid shampoo at Basin in DTD! I have yet to try it out, though. I'd never before seen solid shampoo, and really bought it just because it looked "neat"--but all the travel pluses you mention are great!

I'm a complete convert to the stuff. I never in a million years thought I'd like it. Just seemed a bit odd, but the overly enthusiastic sales girl at Lush sold me on the stuff. Seriously though, what in the world do they hype those girls up on? I've yet to enter a Lush store that wasn't staffed with the happiest, peppiest group of people. They make Disney cast members look laid back.

I took my laptop with me, but solely because we thought we'd want to access e-mail a couple times during the trip. And we did. But if you don't need Internet access at all, the iPod Nano sounds great!

That's what I'm thinking too. I can't see myself paying the crazy amounts for internet service, and I have a new Palm Centro phone now that my e-mail is pushed to.

My sole reason for bringing it would be to download my pics. I really think I'm leaning towards leaving it home. Save my shoulder a bit from lugging it around.

Sniff sniff. You and LL get to meet, TK and Tink get to meet... sadly no one was there at the same time as me.

Again: Lapu Lapu Fabby Fest '09. Lapu Lapu Fabby Fest '09....

Definitely next December then. I've got my passes in hand now! I am really looking forward to a solo trip the more I think about it.

 

[willwriteforears]

Definitely next December then. I've got my passes in hand now! I am really looking forward to a solo trip the more I think about it.

I'm really liking the idea, too. When I first thought about going to Disney World, I'd kinda been banking on going solo, but then my friends wanted to come, and we like to do stuff together once a year if we can, so But a solo trip would give me a chance to just whiz through the attractions I'm interested in, and then have lots of time blocks for people-watching and picture-taking.

 

[If U Had Wings]

That's exactly what I was thinking. Lots of time to take it easy. I've already started a list of what I want to do. Trying to postpone posting it though until I'm ready to start that PTR.

 

[If U Had Wings]

While I was thinking about this I thought I'd post the designs that some wonderful Disers made for me on the Creative board.

This is the one I'm making the T-Shirts from. Everyone took a vote and this won unanimously.

(Of course I played around with this one, to change the names before posting here). The designer was Telyn. She was so nice to personalize the t-shirts on the figures for me. Love it.

I had originally had Mickey and Minnie's pics say Mommy and Daddy since the girls would be wearing these. Mickey and Minnie requested their names, which Telyn was nice enough to change for me. I still have the original design so I'm thinking of making the girls shirts with the original Mommy/Daddy design and making everyone else's with their names. Any thoughts?

This was the other won that someone else designed for me. I'm ashamed to admit that I can't remember exactly who.

I still love this one too, although I didn't catch until much later that Princess Cin's name was spelled wrong. I'm thinking of using this for my trip binder and for my scrapbook.

 

[Lady Lallie]

While I was thinking about this I thought I'd post the designs that some wonderful Disers made for me on the Creative board.

This is the one I'm making the T-Shirts from. Everyone took a vote and this won unanimously.

(Of course I played around with this one, to change the names before posting here). The designer was Telyn. She was so nice to personalize the t-shirts on the figures for me. Love it.

I had originally had Mickey and Minnie's pics say Mommy and Daddy since the girls would be wearing these. Mickey and Minnie requested their names, which Telyn was nice enough to change for me. I still have the original design so I'm thinking of making the girls shirts with the original Mommy/Daddy design and making everyone else's with their names. Any thoughts?

This was the other won that someone else designed for me. I'm ashamed to admit that I can't remember exactly who.

I still love this one too, although I didn't catch until much later that Princess Cin's name was spelled wrong. I'm thinking of using this for my trip binder and for my scrapbook.

Those are so adorable! I am partial to the first one though.

 

[willwriteforears]

Those are both so cute! That's what I love about the Dis--everyone is so nice here! I love that those who are artistically talented are willing to make designs for people they've never met in real life.

If the princesses want shirts with "Mommy" and "Daddy," and everyone else have the ones with names, I think that sounds great.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Too cute!!! I like the first one the best, too!

 

[muppetkaties]

hey, I'm just joining in!! Love the trip report so far, and the vintage pics are great!

 

[If U Had Wings]

Those are so adorable! I am partial to the first one though.

Those are both so cute! That's what I love about the Dis--everyone is so nice here! I love that those who are artistically talented are willing to make designs for people they've never met in real life.

Too cute!!! I like the first one the best, too!

Thanks. It's so wonderful that these people are so generous with their time. I want to go and find some tip envelopes for the trip next.

hey, I'm just joining in!! Love the trip report so far, and the vintage pics are great!

Thanks for stopping by! There will be some more vintage pics as soon as I figure out what in the world I did with them.

 

[Donald is #1]

I love the t shirt designs! I would probably go with the first one but both are great!

 

[Lady Lallie]

Thanks. It's so wonderful that these people are so generous with their time. I want to go and find some tip envelopes for the trip next.

I love the tip envelopes from mcraft17. They are awesome and easy to make too.

 

[If U Had Wings]

Just a quick post right now, as I should be back to work, but just wanted to post that tonight is t-shirt night. I had planned on making them last night, but ended up running around finding new t-shirts for the girls and for my mom.

Mom stated she didn't want to wear a boxy t-shirt, so I had to hunt her down a more fitted style at H&M. I'd been having problems finding a small enough t-shirt for Princess Cin, as AC Moore's doesn't carry x-small. I found the cutest tank at H&M in her size, but if I bought her a special tank I needed to get the same tank for Princess Jasmie. Any of you who deal with kids know the importance of equality. Of course the H&M I was in didn't have her size, so I had to go running around to a few other H&M's to find her one. Luckily I found it.

This t-shirt project is begining to get a bit pricey. I keep buying more t-shirts. Originally I had bought plain white t-shirts for everyone. Then I decieded that I wanted a more fitteded one, plus the new ones for my mom and the girls, and then I had to get a new one for my SIL because I hadn't thought of the fact she likes to wear her t's really big. I think I've bought about 20 shirts so far. I have a huge pile of white shirts sitting in the middle of my living room.

I also tried to buy some new shorts last night at Steve and Barry's. I was just in there last week and they had tons of shorts. Yesterday they had about 5 pairs, all in a size 8, which is about a size 4 or 6 anywhere else. Sooo not going to fit. I'm guessing they must have pulled them, because they couldn't have sold all those shorts in a week. Really annoying.

I'm going to make a stop at the LL Bean outlet tonight to see what they have. I saw a few styles I liked at J Jill online so I can always go back in order them if I don't find what I want at Bean's.

 

[Hedy]

I love the stick figures with the Boston/yankees shirts!

wow, the T shirt project sounds intense.