From Certifiably Insane to Shockingly Lucid: 10/20 - TR Link Posted, We're Back!!!

[scoot241]

Woohoo!



We stayed at CSR in 2004 and it was great. The big pool is very well done and the whole resort is beautiful (and big).

 

[annnewjerz]

Nevermind.

 

[scoot241]

So close to the trip and I'm still thinking of things to add/change/whatever.

The plan right now is to go to MK on the 17th and MNSSHP on the 18th. We just have a base ticket for the first day in WDW.

Does anyone think it's worth upgrading to a hopper? It would be around $100 to add the hopper option to our 1-day tickets, which seems like a lot, but it would mean we could go to Epcot for the first part of the day to do a ride or two and maybe check our the F&W Fest until dinner and then go to MK to see Spectro and Wishes for my first time ever and for their evening hours.

Thoughts?? It's probably a silly idea, but one I wanted input on regardless.

Thanks!

I'm thinking no. Not sure what the hours are, but to pay an extra $100 to be able to go to two parks for one day seems a bit much. If you were adding hoppers for multiple days it would be different.

 

[annnewjerz]

I'm thinking no. Not sure what the hours are, but to pay an extra $100 to be able to go to two parks for one day seems a bit much. If you were adding hoppers for multiple days it would be different.

I guess I didn't delete that in time. I was thinking out loud and after typing it out and realizing we would only have like 3-4 hours in Epcot, I decided it wasn't worth the cost.

Thanks for the confirmation though!

 

[spinetnglr]

Alright folks, it's that time already. "What time is that?" you may be thinking. Well I'll tell ya, it's time for....


THE SINGLE DIGIT DANCE!!!!

(The "Cabbage Patch" is my personal fave)



I can't believe that in only 9 short days, we'll finally be there. We'll get to see the new rooms at CSR. We'll get to have dinner at bluezoo. We'll get to see the MK for the first time in over 2 years. We'll get to celebrate my birthday in Disney!

I'm going to be a frazzled mess for the next 9 days, but I know it'll all be worth it in the end.

....so excited....

I can do my single digit dance tomorrow

 

[annnewjerz]

I can do my single digit dance tomorrow

Ahhhhhh I can't believe it's so close!

 

[norybell]

De-lurking...

Congrats on the single digits! I'm sooooo close, myself, I can barely handle the anticipation!

Also -- and not like you know me, or anything, so feel free to take my opinion with a grain of salt! -- I vote for the first headdress. The second one looks cooler, and more costume-y, but it seems like it'd be a real pain in the *** to wear all night! If they're not expensive, maybe you could get them both, wear the big one for pictures, then change into the small one for the rest of the time? Though I guess that'd be a hassle, too!

 

[annnewjerz]

De-lurking...

Congrats on the single digits! I'm sooooo close, myself, I can barely handle the anticipation!

Also -- and not like you know me, or anything, so feel free to take my opinion with a grain of salt! -- I vote for the first headdress. The second one looks cooler, and more costume-y, but it seems like it'd be a real pain in the *** to wear all night! If they're not expensive, maybe you could get them both, wear the big one for pictures, then change into the small one for the rest of the time? Though I guess that'd be a hassle, too!

Hi!!!

So happy to have someone else acknowledge that they're reading.

I don't know anyone on here with the exception of spinetnglr, so you're not the sole stranger of the bunch.

I agree that the bigger one looks cooler but might be a pain to wear all night. I did buy both, it was only $15 for the two of them, so maybe I'll take your suggestion. Bring both, start the night in the big one and when that gets too annoying, ditch it and switch to the small headband. Hmmmm. If I can fit both in my carry-on that just might work!

 

[annnewjerz]

Well everyone, it's time for another trip related update!

With only a week to go, I figure it's time to alert all of my PTR readers that I will be Twittering/live blogging around The World.

My original idea was to only do a blog because it's super easy to post a picture and it would be one place to keep track of my trip without having to write it all down. Then, I signed up on Twitter to follow Carrie (Lurkyloo) at the D23 expo and realized how much I like the 140 characters of less. I have no self-edit at all so only having 140 characters sort of forces me to get to the point already. BUT, posting to TwitPic seems like a bit of a hassle, so I don't just want to use Twitter, if that makes sense.

So---I made a decision I know I'm going to regret, I'm going to try to do both. Any text updates, I am going to try to post in both places, but any pictures will go to the blog. I'm going to try to do a little combo of what we're doing, what we're eating, what we're riding and generally how the trip is going.

So, without further ado, here are the links.

Here is a link to follow me on Twitter.

Here is a link to follow my live blog.

I'll re-post these links closer to the day we leave in case anyone misses this update.

If you have any comments or questions that you want me to try to answer while we are down there, let me know!

 

[norybell]

Hi!!!

So happy to have someone else acknowledge that they're reading.

I don't know anyone on here with the exception of spinetnglr, so you're not the sole stranger of the bunch.

Yay! Thanks, that makes me feel much better about posting! I'm a shy poster, what can I say. I generally don't want to post unless I really have something to say, but since I don't generally have something specific to say (I mean really, who does?), I end up not getting to know anybody!

 

[annnewjerz]

Does anyone have any suggestions for a good breakfast/snack item that I can ship to CSR in advance?

I will be shipping my tripod via UPS delivery on Monday for arrival on Thursday and would like to include as much in the package as possible, just to ensure we don't have any issue with only doing carry-ons for the trip.

At first I was thinking like, a box of mini-muffins and fiber one bars for snacking on between meals/breakfast, but I'm worried that they'll melt or something. I would hate to ship a bunch of food items down to The World, only to have them melt.

I guess I could make the food my "personal item" on the plane and just pack my purse with muffins and stuff and give DH my camera bag---but my camera gear is something I find hard giving over to another person to have sole control over. I think I just may need to let go, it is my DH after all, not a stranger.

I'm going to also try to ship down a couple of costume components in advance, to save some space in our bags. Namely, I want to ship DH's dixie cup cap, maybe my fringe flip flops and the costume jewelry I bought to go with my outfit.

Hmmmmmmmmm. I think I have a lot to figure out in the next day. Ugh. Wish me luck.

 

[chicagoshannon]

I just clicked to follow you on twitter and now I realize I won't be able to since I"ll be in the parks too. lol I'm still in the dark ages and don't have a phone that can do that.

 

[scoot241]

Does anyone have any suggestions for a good breakfast/snack item that I can ship to CSR in advance?

I will be shipping my tripod via UPS delivery on Monday for arrival on Thursday and would like to include as much in the package as possible, just to ensure we don't have any issue with only doing carry-ons for the trip.

At first I was thinking like, a box of mini-muffins and fiber one bars for snacking on between meals/breakfast, but I'm worried that they'll melt or something. I would hate to ship a bunch of food items down to The World, only to have them melt.

I guess I could make the food my "personal item" on the plane and just pack my purse with muffins and stuff and give DH my camera bag---but my camera gear is something I find hard giving over to another person to have sole control over. I think I just may need to let go, it is my DH after all, not a stranger.

I'm going to also try to ship down a couple of costume components in advance, to save some space in our bags. Namely, I want to ship DH's dixie cup cap, maybe my fringe flip flops and the costume jewelry I bought to go with my outfit.

Hmmmmmmmmm. I think I have a lot to figure out in the next day. Ugh. Wish me luck.

We brought NutriGrain bars, granola bars, muffin bars (are you noticing a trend?). You could probably stuff those in with the tripod and not have a problem.

 

[annnewjerz]

I just clicked to follow you on twitter and now I realize I won't be able to since I"ll be in the parks too. lol I'm still in the dark ages and don't have a phone that can do that.

Well maybe in December, I'll be "tweeting" and blogging for a whole week while we're in The World then.

I hope you guys have a great anniversary trip!

We brought NutriGrain bars, granola bars, muffin bars (are you noticing a trend?). You could probably stuff those in with the tripod and not have a problem.

Hmmmmmm, could it be "bars"??

I think that's a good idea, maybe I'll throw in a box of strawberry poptarts for DH also, he's not allowed to eat them at home so it'll be a treat.

 

[inkedupmomma]

I think mini muffins would be aok..same with the other bars. maybe some trail mix??

 

[annnewjerz]

Let me preface this post by saying that I know we are going to Florida and I expect it to be hot. I am also not one of "those people" who sit and monitor the weather non-stop and believe everything the 10 day forecast says. I usually check the weather once my target date is within a day or two and that's what I take as my real weather prediction.

HOWEVER as of two days ago, I had looked up the 10 day forecast and was seeing temps that were 89 degrees for our trip down there! When we went in September of 07, the temp wasn't much warmer so I was really surprised to see such high temps. I popped over to the "Theme Parks" board and saw that I guess FL is having record temperatures right now.

Great.

If it was just me walking around, I'd have no problem. I like warm weather. But it's me plus who knows how many pounds of camera gear. Ugh. It sounded like this was going to shape up to be a little hotter than I'd like.

Now everyone, here is where the wishes for pixie dust comes into play.

I just checked the 10 day forecast again, and now the temps have dropped to 80-81 for our trip. This would be sooooo much better. With the humidity, this would be plenty hot, just not the unbearable, uncomfortable, suck the life right out of you kind of hot.

So everyone, give me some pixie dust! I want to come back with some spectacular photos to share and the cooler the weather, the greater the chances of that happening.

Hopefully at this time next week, I'll be sitting at CSR at the Dig Site pool with a drink and camera in hand, getting ready to take a power nap before changing into our costumes for MNSSHP.

Only 6 days now---so excited!!!

 

[annnewjerz]

One more thing I can cross off of my never ending to-do list. Today, I mailed my package down to CSR. This package contains: my tripod, a leatherman utility tool, my collection of Chip & Dale pins, sunscreen, a box of Pop Tarts, a box of granola bars and a box of Crystal Light on-the-go packets so we don't have to spend tons of dough on drinks while in The World.

I've got to say, it feels nice to have that out of the way. I had to wake up at 5:30am today to get a ride into work (having car troubles) and I thought for sure I'd forget something. I'm hoping that I'm not speaking too soon, but right now it looks like everything that I needed to ship made it into the box and is waiting for pick-up by UPS as I type.

Another added bonus, I get a HUGE discount on UPS at work, so for a 10ish pound package-o-crap, it only cost something like $7 to ship. Not bad at all, if I say so myself.

Tonight, I have the task of trying to pry my DH away from the Phillies' game to start sorting some clothes that he wants to take with him to The World. I have no problem doing the packing, in fact I actually like it, but I refuse to pick out outfits for him to wear. After all, I'm not his mother. If we can get that started and get his shoes picked out, I'm sure we'll be on pace for being all packed by Friday night.

5 more days, people. 5 more days.

 

[annnewjerz]

Would it be bad to pack my DH's quart sized ziploc in his carry-on with nips of liquor instead of with toiletries? He is content using the soap and shampoo that a hotel gives you (which I am not), so if I can fit all of my stuff in one ziploc---why not make good use of the other and stock up on the alcohol?

We aren't heavy drinkers, but DH hates to fly and I think if he was able to have his own Jack and Coke, he may be a little more relaxed on the flight down.

Are you even allowed to do this? I don't see why you couldn't---and who knows, maybe there is even a place to stock up on little drink bottles in the airport so we wouldn't need to waste the ziploc. Hmmmmmmm, I wonder if there's a way to figure that out.

 

[scoot241]

Would it be bad to pack my DH's quart sized ziploc in his carry-on with nips of liquor instead of with toiletries? He is content using the soap and shampoo that a hotel gives you (which I am not), so if I can fit all of my stuff in one ziploc---why not make good use of the other and stock up on the alcohol?

We aren't heavy drinkers, but DH hates to fly and I think if he was able to have his own Jack and Coke, he may be a little more relaxed on the flight down.

Are you even allowed to do this? I don't see why you couldn't---and who knows, maybe there is even a place to stock up on little drink bottles in the airport so we wouldn't need to waste the ziploc. Hmmmmmmm, I wonder if there's a way to figure that out.

Not sure if that's going to work because alcohol is flammable. The TSA has a website that lists what you can and can't carry on.

 

[annnewjerz]

Not sure if that's going to work because alcohol is flammable. The TSA has a website that lists what you can and can't carry on.

That sounds a little silly, since most everything is flammable if you light it on fire. I can understand not taking something like gasoline on a plane, but nips of whiskey? Dumb.

I can say with 100% certainty that we can take alcohol on the plane. We've always bought a bottle at the duty free shop when we take trips out of the country and carried them on, but maybe it's different if you purchase it pre-security versus post-security.

I think we'll try it anyway, at the worst, DH will have to stand there with his shoes off while TSA agents watch him down a few shots worth of liquor.