First trip....Feb 2012....Polynesian....Yay!

[DMGeurts]

Oh and if D~ is still reading this.....I saw those pens that someone gave you. The Donald one that when you click it his body drops down. So incredibly fun! I honestly spent about 10 mins playing with those while my mom was trying to find something useable in that store. I liked the Goofy one best, but Donald was pretty fun too!

Of course I am still reading... Yes, I love that pen - I'll bet Goofy is adorable too... The next time I am at TDS, I will probably invest in one for dd, since she loves him sooooo much.

Just to share a little story about what I did today:
I had 3 vacation days to use up before the end of the year, so my boss told me to take today and tomorrow and Tuesday (we get Monday anyway for Xmas)...so this morning my mom and I headed to the nearest Disney store to see if we could find some shirts etc for our trip. Well, we live in the middle of nowhere, so the closest Disney store was 2 1/2 hours away! Not that big of a deal...nice ride. Well, we drive this 2 1/2 hours and get to said Disney store to find NOTHING! They had a ton of girls princess clothes and lots of toys. But nothing for a little boy or adults. I mean nothing. The ONLY shirt in his size was a Toy Story dumb little screen print thing. He hates that movie. I am not that worried about Bradey's clothes because I can find a little Mickey shirt anywhere online. It is me that is the problem. I am not a plus size, but not a juniors either. I have a hard time finding shirts that fit me. Disney seems to run VERY small, so I knew I had to try things on. Well, besides the fact that the store didn't even have a dressing room, they didn't have any slothes that weren't juniors. The one sweatshirt they had for a woman was really really ugly. Like the rack was full because no one bought them. I was so deflated all day after that. To drive that far and come out empty handed was horrible! I guess I have to order online and hope I get one that fits. I think I will order a couple sizes and then send back the one that doesn't fit. I want that black zip up hoodie thing with a rhinestone Mickey head. Then I can just wear that with anything. And I found some nice embroidered iron-on patches that I can just put on tshirts I already have.

I am really sorry that TDS had nothing... I noticed that when I was at the new MOA store - I was kind of disgusted, not that I was really planning to buy anything. But TDS has been turned into one gigantic toy store. Not really any snow globes, no pins... Quite a few of the vinylmation figurines... One very small rack of folded t-shirts, totally picked over and I didn't see anything for boys either. What ever happend to TDS where a child (of any age) could walk in and find treasures and clothes that were fun??? I know that the new stores are much closer in nostalgia to the original stores, but there is still no comparison... Maybe that is why I am having so much fun creating customs???

I hope you have success finding the one you want online - but it just isn't the same...

D~

 

[solana131]

Thanks D~ And your stuff is amazing. Had I found you sooner, I most definitly would've ordered one of your bags. They are the best things I have ever seen.

I still haven't ruled out making my own with iron-ons, but I think if I can just get a cute little hoodie and maybe a baseball cap, I would be happy.

We had a little snow here last night (finally). I can't believe we had a foot on Holloween, a foot on Thanksgiving, but only an inch for Christmas. Weird Well its a good day to hang out at home with my little man and bake cookies. Now I just have to decide if we get to eat them or give them away. I have a feeling people are gonna get some last minute Dunkin Donuts giftcards instead of cookies because those red velvet ones look yummy!

 

[DMGeurts]

Thanks D~ And your stuff is amazing. Had I found you sooner, I most definitly would've ordered one of your bags. They are the best things I have ever seen.

I still haven't ruled out making my own with iron-ons, but I think if I can just get a cute little hoodie and maybe a baseball cap, I would be happy.

I have seen some really adorable iron ons over in the creative community board... Loads of talent here on The Dis.

We had a little snow here last night (finally). I can't believe we had a foot on Holloween, a foot on Thanksgiving, but only an inch for Christmas. Weird Well its a good day to hang out at home with my little man and bake cookies. Now I just have to decide if we get to eat them or give them away. I have a feeling people are gonna get some last minute Dunkin Donuts giftcards instead of cookies because those red velvet ones look yummy!

We had a bit of snow here today - and by lunch time, it was gone. It's very eerie, living in MN my whole life, and this is the first year that we have a totally brown Christmas - it certainly doesn't feel like Christmas. Not that I am complaining about the unseasonably warm winter - but I do enjoy a white Christmas.

ROFL about the Dunkin' Donuts gift cards... I just finished making the home made custard sauce for the trifle, and dd is currently making the cake - so we can assemble it tomorrow morning.

I hope you have a wonderful and Merry Christmas...

D~

 

[DMGeurts]

I just had to stop by to
wish you a

I hope you have a fabulous holiday!

D~​

 

[solana131]

Thanks D~! Your trifle sounds amazing Yum yum! My We are a big trifle family too. I think my mom is making her gingerbread trifle for tomorrow night. She uses gingerbread as the cake and pumpkin mixed with vanilla pudding and spices for the cream part. It is very yummy!

Our snow is melting fast too, but I think it will stick around for tomorrow at least. I know by the coast they didn't get anything in that storm yesterday, so I guess we can count ourselves lucky to have a white Christmas.

Well I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

We have DHs family coming over tonight. This is always a hard time of the year. We lost my mother-in-law 4 years ago in November and she was a huge Christmas fan. She gave birth on Christmas day to identical twins (DH and his brother)...so obviously she liked this holiday. Its hard to celebrate a double birthday on Christmas day, so we are going out next weekend to celebrate the guys birthday.

Tomorrow morning we will do presents here at home, then head to my Gram's for noon. Then after we go to my parent's house. DH has to work tomorrow night, so DS and myself will probably stay with my parents that night and come home before DH gets back in the morning.

Anytime anyone asked me what I wanted for Christmas this year I told them a Disney giftcard So we will see what I get tomorrow....I am hoping to have enough in giftcards to take care of all our meals at least.

Happy Holidays!

 

[DMGeurts]

That would be wonderful if you got enough gift cards to take care of your meals!

The gingerbread/pumpkin trifle sounds absolutely wonderful and holiday like... Might have to try that one next year!

Sorry the holidays are rough for all of you, it's not easy losing a family member at Christmas time. (((Hugs))) I hope your DH and his brother have a wonderful birthday!

D~

 

[Chicago Mo]

For the Kids birthday party we told everyone in the invite we were going to Disney. Everyone gave gift cards!!! it paid for ALL the keepsakes they wanted!!! Helped very much!!!

 

[solana131]

Wow, what a whirlwind of a Christmas! But it was good. We got well over $300 in giftcards and my son got his very own $50 one I figured our portion of the meals to be about $250, but was just the meals...no drinks, no dessert, no tips. So I think we will be fine with the $300 giftcards plus cash for tips. My mom got us matching Mickey shirts (although mine is a mens because the stupid Disney store didn't have ANYTHING for women) and I actually convinced DH that it would be ok to match in Disney. And I have officially started packing. Just the shorts and capris since we obviously won't need them up in Maine from now til Feb I have to get a picture of our new luggage....so very proud of it. I found an awesome deal on some very expensive luggage on Amazon.

Got my Mousekeeping envelopes all made out and will fill those soon and pop them in the suitcases. I just used regular white envelopes and got a bunch of misc Disney stickers. I have seen some really really cute ones online, but really.....I'm sure they don't care what they look like, they probably just rip into them and throw them away

38 days to go!!!!!

 

[Moodyzblu]

Yay for gift cards ! We got a few for our trip and they;ll come in handy I'm sure.

I usually just buy Thank You cards for Mousekeeping and some cute Disney stickers to decorate the envelopes.

Packing I usually do the week of our trip .. but you're right .. you won't need them now in Maine !

Ps .. we visit Maine several times each summer .. we go to the Wells/Ogunquit area and just LOVE it there.

 

[FosterA]

Your trip is right around the corner!! yay

did you say you and your husband will wear matching shirts in Disney? That is so cute! My husband would die before he'd do that but I loved seeing the couples with matching shirts! Especially the older retired couples, so cute.

oh and great idea to do envelopes for mousekeeping. I didn't do that and I really wish I had. My tipping was very inconsistent and I'd forget a day and then leave extra another day and so forth and so on. I hope we had the same person the whole time so it evened out otherwise one might have got a bunch and another nothing. eek

anyway...just wanted to pop in and say Hi. I read alot but don't always post so keep on writing!

 

[DMGeurts]

Wow, what a whirlwind of a Christmas! But it was good. We got well over $300 in giftcards and my son got his very own $50 one I figured our portion of the meals to be about $250, but was just the meals...no drinks, no dessert, no tips. So I think we will be fine with the $300 giftcards plus cash for tips. My mom got us matching Mickey shirts (although mine is a mens because the stupid Disney store didn't have ANYTHING for women) and I actually convinced DH that it would be ok to match in Disney. And I have officially started packing. Just the shorts and capris since we obviously won't need them up in Maine from now til Feb I have to get a picture of our new luggage....so very proud of it. I found an awesome deal on some very expensive luggage on Amazon.

Got my Mousekeeping envelopes all made out and will fill those soon and pop them in the suitcases. I just used regular white envelopes and got a bunch of misc Disney stickers. I have seen some really really cute ones online, but really.....I'm sure they don't care what they look like, they probably just rip into them and throw them away

38 days to go!!!!!

Super excited for you!!!! Only 38 days to go... WHOOT!

Awesome about the GCs for Christmas... I didn't get any. People must think I am sewing every spare minute of my life because I enjoy it - or something. Totally kidding.... Because I really do enjoy it.

I think it's super cute that you're doing matching shirts with DH in Disney... I was able to get DH to coordinate a couple of days, but that is about it - if I can ever drag him (kicking and screaming) to Disney again, I will be sure to make him a bunch of custom shirts, so he is guilted into wearing them.

I need to do Mousekeeping envelopes too... Not sure what I am doing yet though... Still gotta save for that part of the trip.

D~

 

[solana131]

Yay for gift cards ! We got a few for our trip and they;ll come in handy I'm sure.

I usually just buy Thank You cards for Mousekeeping and some cute Disney stickers to decorate the envelopes.

Packing I usually do the week of our trip .. but you're right .. you won't need them now in Maine !

Ps .. we visit Maine several times each summer .. we go to the Wells/Ogunquit area and just LOVE it there.

Its funny, I have lived in ME my whole life and only about 1 hr away...but I've never been to Ogunquit! I've driven through Wells, but never gone there as a destination. I will have to remedy that this summer

Your trip is right around the corner!! yay

did you say you and your husband will wear matching shirts in Disney? That is so cute! My husband would die before he'd do that but I loved seeing the couples with matching shirts! Especially the older retired couples, so cute.

oh and great idea to do envelopes for mousekeeping. I didn't do that and I really wish I had. My tipping was very inconsistent and I'd forget a day and then leave extra another day and so forth and so on. I hope we had the same person the whole time so it evened out otherwise one might have got a bunch and another nothing. eek

anyway...just wanted to pop in and say Hi. I read alot but don't always post so keep on writing!

Okay, let me clarify....my mom got us one tshirt that is alike. It is just a gray tshirt with a couple little mickeys on it. Nothing too crazy. And it is just one shirt. We will not match for the whole trip. And my little guy has a gray mickey shirt too, but not exactly the same. I'll take pics at some point

Super excited for you!!!! Only 38 days to go... WHOOT!

Awesome about the GCs for Christmas... I didn't get any. People must think I am sewing every spare minute of my life because I enjoy it - or something. Totally kidding.... Because I really do enjoy it.

I think it's super cute that you're doing matching shirts with DH in Disney... I was able to get DH to coordinate a couple of days, but that is about it - if I can ever drag him (kicking and screaming) to Disney again, I will be sure to make him a bunch of custom shirts, so he is guilted into wearing them.

I need to do Mousekeeping envelopes too... Not sure what I am doing yet though... Still gotta save for that part of the trip.

D~

I know you are kidding about the sewing thing....if you didn't enjoy it, the stuff wouldn't be nearly as cute. You can tell you put your heart and soul into what you do!

So, for the mousekeeping.....I have heard about $1-$2 per person in the room. Is that about right? I had planned on maybe $6 per day since we will have 3 ppl for 3 nights and 5 ppl for 4 nights. And I've heard $1 a bag for bell services...right?

 

[DMGeurts]

So, for the mousekeeping.....I have heard about $1-$2 per person in the room. Is that about right? I had planned on maybe $6 per day since we will have 3 ppl for 3 nights and 5 ppl for 4 nights. And I've heard $1 a bag for bell services...right?

That's about right... And I am a tightwad, so I will probably only have Mousekeeping come into our room every other day - unless we need towels.

Yes, I have heard $1 per bag, someone can correct me if I am wrong.

D~

 

[Moodyzblu]

Its funny, I have lived in ME my whole life and only about 1 hr away...but I've never been to Ogunquit! I've driven through Wells, but never gone there as a destination. I will have to remedy that this summer

We're 2 hours from Wells which is the same amount of time to go to the New Hampshire beaches where everyone else around here go to .. but we much rather go to the Maine beaches .. SO much nicer and cleaner. I'm partial to Moody beach myself which is right up the street from the hotel we usually stay at on the Wells/Ogunquit line. Do take a ride over there .. it's very nice ! Plus they have the outlet malls which are great for a rainy day.

 

[Lidian]

So, for the mousekeeping.....I have heard about $1-$2 per person in the room. Is that about right? I had planned on maybe $6 per day since we will have 3 ppl for 3 nights and 5 ppl for 4 nights. And I've heard $1 a bag for bell services...right?

I'll quote from the Birnbaum guide on tipping:

... $1 per bag is appropriate for lugging luggage; $1-$3 per person, per night for housekeeping services (include a note to avoid confusion). Gratuities of 15 to 20 percent (excluding tax) are customary at full-service restaurants. ... Give cab drivers a 15 percent tip for good service. Baggage handlers at the train station and airport expect about $1 per bag.

That's about right... And I am a tightwad, so I will probably only have Mousekeeping come into our room every other day - unless we need towels.

Yes, I have heard $1 per bag, someone can correct me if I am wrong.

D~

Typically, we only request housekeeping every few days when we stay somewhere, but normally we take it daily at WDW. I dunno why. I guess it's for the chance at a cute towel animal.

We got one MOST days in 2010 at CBR. I think we only didn't have one on one day. We got zero in May at CSR. Oh, and in 2009, my mom's room got towel animals frequently; our room, next door, got zilch. Which was the room with all the kids.

 

[solana131]

So here is my new luggage!

Love love love it! I wanted something easy to spot in the sea of black out there, but not a light color that would get dirty right away. These look like they will be the perfect compromise. Mine is the pink, DHs is the green and DSs is the orange. Wish I had gotten the carryons too.

And the matching shirts my mom gave us:

Sorry, not too good of a picture, but in Feb I will get a pic of us wearing them for ya

And DS's hat and another tshirt from Grammie

I saw a much cuter hat, but she was getting impatient and got this one instead He is 5, he doesn't care....so it will work fine!

 

[Moodyzblu]

I love the luggage !! Very nice.

The shirts are cute .. I love to match when we go to the parks !

 

[Lidian]

Totally love the luggage! Looks great!!!

 

[DMGeurts]

That luggage is awesome!!!! You'll never lose it, that's for sure!

And all the Disney stuff is too cute - I love that you all have coordinating Mickey shirts.

D~

 

[CamoMama]

Just found your PTR, sorry I'm late! I'm going to be there at the same time! Feb 3-12 at CBR. This will be our very first trip to WDW so I can't offer any advice, but I am enjoying reading all of your plans! I was sad about the electrical parade and Thunder Mountain as well. The first day of the parade after refurb is the 11th.

Your luggage is awesome! I've been trying to find new luggage for the girls and I for the trip but all I can find are boring black or ridiculously bright colors. Where did you find those?