How is a Disney Trip Like a Writing Desk: A PTR through Wonderland UPDATED: 9/18/10

[Tinkerbellarella]

I may also be the ONLY female boy scout you know.

Because my motto is, "Be Prepared."

(Whatsa motto with you? Hahahahaha..haha..ha...)

And this was preparation weekend, folks. Next weekend I have approximately 8 million and one half appointments and BF and I are still in the thick of the moving situation. Which, if you've any interest, has come down to whether we're taking an apartment on 10/7 or 11/1. We'd like the former, but there's a minor monetary snag in that plan and we have to see if the landlord will work with us. Not to get into the details but, when was the last time YOU had to have $5,150 by the end of Oct. with just a few week's notice???

UGH.



But, if that doesn't work out, we'll just do the 11/1 move-in date, BF will live with family for a few weeks, and I'll be at our current place, which will also work just fine.

But anyway...back to being prepared, not being a motormouth...

Being prepared meant this weekend I needed to complete my packing. ALL of my packing. Yesterday was spent pulling out the remaining clothes I'd washed during the week for the trip, ironing said wrinkled mass, and rolling my clothes.

Yes, rolling them.

I've never prescribed to the theory that rolling your clothes takes up less room in the suitcase, but I thought I'd give it a shot because I DID like the idea of not having to iron in Disney. And supposedly the rolling technique prevents wrinkles. The less ironing Tink has to do in Disney the happier Tink she'll be.

In third person. Apparently.

And so everything was rolled. And packed. The verdict? I think it takes up the same darn amount of space. Whatever.

Then I did my 'everything that isn't clothes' check and packed all that, marking items that would need to be packed the morning of and items I still needed to buy. I made a quick run to Wal-Mart to pick up the missing items (Fun Tink Fact #54: Tink doesn't like Wal-Mart, so this is a testament to my efficiency since WM is 20 min. closer to me than Target). The only things left I need to buy are postcard stamps. And while I know I can get them in Disney, let me remind you:

Be Prepared.

I also organized my carry-on and marked the day-of items to pack there.

Done, done and done.

So what's left to do on this Sunday, a mere 14 DAYS UNTIL DISNEY?

( )

1. Clear off camera memory card.
2. Charge camera battery.
3. Buy postcard stamps.
4. Take $$ out of the bank.
5. Organize revised trip binder (and double check tickets).
6. Finish window decorations for POP window.
7. Activate Disney Rewards card.
8. Pack morning-of items.

Not a bad list with ONLY TWO WEEKS TO GO!

::ahem::

Can you tell I'm getting a little excited now?

Which is a relief. Because I was really starting to worry I'd never get that "I'm going to Disney World!" feeling you get before the start of a trip. It was a little delayed in its arrival, but it's here now.

I'm glad my "To Do" list is small-ish because the next two weeks at work are sure to be crazy. This week is a short week (YAY!) AND my boss is on vacation which means we'll be extra busy. And next week is obviously my last week of work which also guarantees extra insanity. I'm not 100% sure I'll be on the DIS with any consistency, especially if BF and I are able to get the 10/7 move-in and start our packing, but I'll do my best.

I'm also musing TR title ideas but I'm happy to take any suggestions! Usually my trips have some sort of theme, but I'm at a little bit of a loss. Normally I'm pretty creative. This time I blame the mass chaos that is currently ruling my life.

So that's what I've got for you! We're down to the last couple of weeks! On Thursday I can do online check-in. On Friday we'll be in the single digits. And for every single day after that, I'll be falling asleep to and waking up with that pulse of trip excitement!

 

[LegoMom3]

I may also be the ONLY female boy scout you know.

Because my motto is, "Be Prepared."

You might also be a cursed mountain goat: " I was prepa-a-a-a-red! "



[Hoodwinked, if you haven't seen it. And if you haven't seen it, then that won't be nearly as funny.]

(Whatsa motto with you? Hahahahaha..haha..ha...)

SO embarrassed to admit that I just LOL'd over that.....

I've never prescribed to the theory that rolling your clothes takes up less room in the suitcase, but I thought I'd give it a shot because I DID like the idea of not having to iron in Disney. And supposedly the rolling technique prevents wrinkles. The less ironing Tink has to do in Disney the happier Tink she'll be.

In third person. Apparently.

LegoMom thinks the rolling is the better bet, too, but she does NOT ever, I repeat, EVER, do ironing on vacation. Heck she rarely irons at all. She thought that thing with the smooth hot bottom was for making grilled cheese sandwiches.....

The hard metal shiny "smooth hot bottom"!!......sheesh!!!

Not a bad list with ONLY TWO WEEKS TO GO!

::ahem::

Can you tell I'm getting a little excited now?

WOOT!!!!!!!!!!! Who's excited?!......who's excited?!!


Great installment and you'll be missed if you can't be around here much but we understand. I have totally caught your pre-trip excitement and I have SO. long. to go.

But at least I'm goin'!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

.

 

[arbolita]

Thank you, I now have this stuck in my head: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZ6cw_MuTDE

 

[TarzansKat]

Dude, it is exciting!

Can I be a pita and just say I wish I was going?

 

[creativeamanda]

Ironing on vacation? Who'd've even thunk it.

Of course, coming from someone who rarely irons in the first place.

I'm so happy you are getting excited about this vacation. And all the other little details in your life will iron themselves out. creativeamanda (in the third person) promises it.

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

Tink--great score on the tickets--I'm so glad you are finally getting escited about this trip.

Me too. What a relief to feel "normal" about a Disney trip again.

I swear, this is right up there with your meat coming from a happy place.

The Three Main Tenets of Life with Tinkerbellarella:

1. My meat comes from a happy place.
2. Saran Wrap is a product of the devil.
3. Wal-Mart is Hades with rollback pricing.

I missed this, yay for you!!! I've made out so well this time, too, with air!!!

Excellent! I forget, are you flying SW out of Logan? Or Jet Blue? Or another airline. I was disappointed with SW's Logan schedule - no nonstops!

You might also be a cursed mountain goat: " I was prepa-a-a-a-red! "



[Hoodwinked, if you haven't seen it. And if you haven't seen it, then that won't be nearly as funny.]

I've not seen it, though it sounds vaguely familiar...

SO embarrassed to admit that I just LOL'd over that.....

Honey, you given the 'Casey's Naked Dog' incident of 2010, this is the least of your worries.

The hard metal shiny "smooth hot bottom"!!......sheesh!!!

And the PTR went South from here...

I have totally caught your pre-trip excitement and I have SO. long. to go.

But at least I'm goin'!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

The Lego Clan.
In the French Quarter.
With the beignets.

Your PTR, should you have one, should totally be Clue-themed.

Thank you, I now have this stuck in my head: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZ6cw_MuTDE

It's been in my head all day too.

Can I be a pita and just say I wish I was going?

Only if I can too be a pita and say I wish you were going too.

Ironing on vacation? Who'd've even thunk it.

Of course, coming from someone who rarely irons in the first place.

BF irons for me. A lot.

I'm so happy you are getting excited about this vacation. And all the other little details in your life will iron themselves out. creativeamanda (in the third person) promises it.

All you need is faith, hope and a little bit of pixie dust.

 

[LegoMom3]

...

Honey, you given the 'Casey's Naked Dog' incident of 2010, this is the least of your worries.





And the PTR went South from here...



The Lego Clan.
In the French Quarter.
With the beignets.

Your PTR, should you have one, should totally be Clue-themed.

...

Thanks for the laugh hon!......I so totally need it right now. I'm sitting here in tears over something completely un-related to Disney, and it felt good to think of you and laugh.

.

 

[princess&her4princes]

Excellent! I forget, are you flying SW out of Logan? Or Jet Blue? Or another airline. I was disappointed with SW's Logan schedule - no nonstops!

:

We're flying out of Logan on Jet Blue...I HAVE TO fly direct with the boys.....it's worth any extra price for that for us! We learned the hard way, one time!!

 

[princess&her4princes]

I may also be the ONLY female boy scout you know.

Because my motto is, "Be Prepared."

(Whatsa motto with you? Hahahahaha..haha..ha...)

And this was preparation weekend, folks. Next weekend I have approximately 8 million and one half appointments and BF and I are still in the thick of the moving situation. Which, if you've any interest, has come down to whether we're taking an apartment on 10/7 or 11/1. We'd like the former, but there's a minor monetary snag in that plan and we have to see if the landlord will work with us. Not to get into the details but, when was the last time YOU had to have $5,150 by the end of Oct. with just a few week's notice???

UGH.



But, if that doesn't work out, we'll just do the 11/1 move-in date, BF will live with family for a few weeks, and I'll be at our current place, which will also work just fine.

But anyway...back to being prepared, not being a motormouth...

Being prepared meant this weekend I needed to complete my packing. ALL of my packing. Yesterday was spent pulling out the remaining clothes I'd washed during the week for the trip, ironing said wrinkled mass, and rolling my clothes.

Yes, rolling them.

I've never prescribed to the theory that rolling your clothes takes up less room in the suitcase, but I thought I'd give it a shot because I DID like the idea of not having to iron in Disney. And supposedly the rolling technique prevents wrinkles. The less ironing Tink has to do in Disney the happier Tink she'll be.

In third person. Apparently.

And so everything was rolled. And packed. The verdict? I think it takes up the same darn amount of space. Whatever.

Then I did my 'everything that isn't clothes' check and packed all that, marking items that would need to be packed the morning of and items I still needed to buy. I made a quick run to Wal-Mart to pick up the missing items (Fun Tink Fact #54: Tink doesn't like Wal-Mart, so this is a testament to my efficiency since WM is 20 min. closer to me than Target). The only things left I need to buy are postcard stamps. And while I know I can get them in Disney, let me remind you:

Be Prepared.

I also organized my carry-on and marked the day-of items to pack there.

Done, done and done.

So what's left to do on this Sunday, a mere 14 DAYS UNTIL DISNEY?

( )

1. Clear off camera memory card.
2. Charge camera battery.
3. Buy postcard stamps.
4. Take $$ out of the bank.
5. Organize revised trip binder (and double check tickets).
6. Finish window decorations for POP window.
7. Activate Disney Rewards card.
8. Pack morning-of items.

Not a bad list with ONLY TWO WEEKS TO GO!

::ahem::

Can you tell I'm getting a little excited now?

Which is a relief. Because I was really starting to worry I'd never get that "I'm going to Disney World!" feeling you get before the start of a trip. It was a little delayed in its arrival, but it's here now.

I'm glad my "To Do" list is small-ish because the next two weeks at work are sure to be crazy. This week is a short week (YAY!) AND my boss is on vacation which means we'll be extra busy. And next week is obviously my last week of work which also guarantees extra insanity. I'm not 100% sure I'll be on the DIS with any consistency, especially if BF and I are able to get the 10/7 move-in and start our packing, but I'll do my best.

I'm also musing TR title ideas but I'm happy to take any suggestions! Usually my trips have some sort of theme, but I'm at a little bit of a loss. Normally I'm pretty creative. This time I blame the mass chaos that is currently ruling my life.

So that's what I've got for you! We're down to the last couple of weeks! On Thursday I can do online check-in. On Friday we'll be in the single digits. And for every single day after that, I'll be falling asleep to and waking up with that pulse of trip excitement!

Love this post! Sounds like you have a your Disney mojo back! You go girl!

I've always been intrigued by the rolling method of packing! I was also just about to post an update on my PTR about packing and asking if people had suggestions on the non wrinkling method of packing! Hmm...I need to get this "ironed" out myself!

Sounds like life has you on it's toes, not a bad thing, change is good and you sound like you've got things figured out, so good for you! things have a way of working themsleves out!

Good for you for all you have done 2 weeks ahead of schedule, I'm in that panic-ky place right now!!!!!!!!

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

Thanks for the laugh hon!......I so totally need it right now. I'm sitting here in tears over something completely un-related to Disney, and it felt good to think of you and laugh.

Oh no! What's wrong? Can I help??? PM me if you need to. Tears over Disney or tears over anything else...Tink's not ok with LM's tears.

PM me if you need anything.

We're flying out of Logan on Jet Blue...I HAVE TO fly direct with the boys.....it's worth any extra price for that for us! We learned the hard way, one time!!

Oh yuck! Doesn't sound like the stopover was the best experience.

I've always been intrigued by the rolling method of packing! I was also just about to post an update on my PTR about packing and asking if people had suggestions on the non wrinkling method of packing! Hmm...I need to get this "ironed" out myself!

We'll see about the "no wrinkle" theory but in terms of space saving, I really think it took up the same amount of space as if I had packed "flat".

Sounds like life has you on it's toes, not a bad thing, change is good and you sound like you've got things figured out, so good for you! things have a way of working themsleves out!

Absolutely!

As a matter of fact, we're all set on the apartment front. We sign the lease next Saturday afternoon and will have the place around 10/7. We will actually have TWO homes for the month of October - the new place and the old place but since our last month's rent is already paid up here, it really made no difference. It allows us to move gradually rather than shoving it all into one weekend. BF will stay at the new place at nights be at the academy during the day and will come here afterwards to spend time with me and to pack. The more plans we have in place the better I fee.

I'm just the teensiest bit control freak.

 

[MaryAz]

I have seen you on many a TR
Then I saw your ticker which looks kinda like mine date wise
Then i saw chapter links

I am sorry you and BF's fun trip was not to be. But a HUGE congrats to hime on his dream job! How exciting!

Yay for a solo trip with dx dining. We did it in May and loved it though at times it was to much food. We love Yak and Yeti.

Congrats on saving on airfare and getting excited about your trip. Your plans look great though we wont be at the same place at the same time. I hope you have a pixie dust filled trip!!

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

First, an update on my 'Trip To Do's:

1. Clear off camera memory card. ~ DONE!
2. Charge camera battery. ~ DONE!
3. Buy postcard stamps.
4. Take $$ out of the bank.
5. Organize revised trip binder (and double check tickets).
6. Finish window decorations for POP window. ~ DONE!
7. Activate Disney Rewards card. ~ DONE!
8. Buy Gorillapod. ~ NEW AND DONE!
9. Do online check-in. ~ NEW!
10. Pack morning-of items.

I realized two things this a.m., the first being that I'd wanted to try using a Gorillapod for some fireworks photos on this trip. However one must own a Gorillapod to try a Gorillapod. So, after the annual cookout at my grandparents' house, BF and I took a quick ride to Best Buy.

If by quick ride you mean I had what I needed in-hand in about 3.5 minutes and BF stood playing some random Wii game and checking out fridges we can't afford for 15 minutes.

The second thing that I realized was that I hadn't packed any shoes for my Cali Grill dress. I knew I only wanted to bring flats and that they wouldn't take up space, but it did require me opening my suitcase. And being irked by my "rolled" items. Which weren't packed flat. So I proceeded to unpack my whole suitcase.

And re-pack it. Flat.

When I realized a third thing.

Rolling DOES save space.

So I unpacked and re-packed a final time. Now everything, EVERYTHING, except for morning-of items, is packed. And Tink stands corrected about the rolling saving space.

It doesn't, however, prevent wrinkles...or, maybe it would if you weren't cramming as much stuff into my little suitcase as I am.

Which is the perfect segue for...

The Trip Bags!

(Men, you are free to shake your heads and go find some meaningful source of testosterone.)

I give you the official 2010 trip bags (sans carry-on; I'm not sure why that didn't make it in this shot):

I only check one bag, but I like to have a "just in case" bag for the flight home (as in just in case I spend FAR to much money on souvies). So what I do is pack that pink Nike duffle inside my suitcase, like so:

I always have a COACH wristlet to tote with me in the parks since I've never been a big fan of having a large purse in the parks. This is this year's wristlet:

In addition to the buckle flap, there's also a zip up top. It's large enough to hold money, phone, camera, lip balm and some band-aids - my trip essentials.

I'd be remiss, however, if I didn't mention this little beauty, discovered and purchased on my May 2009 trip with TK:

It's a nice size - not too big and not too small, and a durable canvas material. And not to overstate the obvious, but supercute. I see me carrying this on days/nights I plan on having the Gorillapod for fireworks shots.

And I mean, come on! It's got a built-in lime green Mickey!

Which is the perfect segue into...

Home Depot no longer replenishing the Mickey Head paint chips we DISers so love to pilfer for non-house-painting-related-projects. I was not to be deterred, however! I wanted some for my POP window decorations, but the only colors they had left weren't what I was looking for.

So I thunked.

And pilfered...ONE.

To use as a stencil. I think pilfered samples of Behr, Martha Stewart and Glidden paints in the colors I wanted and made my OWN darn Mickey Head paint chips.

I call them Rogue Mickey Heads.

And with my Rogue Mickeys I finished my window decorations.

Tomorrow I'll bring my trip binder to work and print out/three-hole-punch some last items and then that will be done and will be put in the carry-on. I'll also get my postcard stamps tomorrow. Two more items to be checked off the list!

And in non-Disney news, BF and I will sign the lease on our new place next Saturday. We'll have a move-in date on or about 10/7 but will keep our old place through 10/31 also. We're obviously too late to give 30 days notice (which is in our month-to-month rental agreement) and already have our last month paid up anyway. We figure, why not? It allows us to move in over a few weeks instead of over a weekend, the way you normally would. BF will be living there so that he fills the residency requirement. I'll be living here at the old place. He'll stay here on the weekends and come here when he gets out of the academy to help me pack, but he'll be sleeping there.

I feel SO much better now that we have a plan. And I think BF likes the idea of living in the new place more than living with his brother and SIL and their kids for three weeks! They're wonderful but...it's not home, KWIM?

We also are going to have to get a new couch since ours are well worn in and/or actually a bit too big for the new living room layout, so we'll do that the first weekend we have the place. There's a great furniture chain that's local to us that has a clearance center with one-off's, returns, items with some damage, etc. We spent some time there last night and saw some great prospects. AND they get new stuff in every couple of days, so we're pretty confident we'll find something in our price range. We also have to get rid of our HUGE dining room table and get a smaller, cafe-type table and also found a nice set ther that we like. We may hold off on that for a month or so but, again, it's a good feeling to know where we can get it.

I think that's everything. I hope everyone had a great Labor Day and long weekend. I know I did! Hopefully the work week won't be TOO crazy and I'll be single digit dancing before I know it!

Have a good night, y'all.

 

[LegoMom3]

If your household is anything like mine, I know two family members who are going to immediately take ownership of that new couch you're buyin'!

Oh, and despite not being a bag person (NObaglady), yours are super cute!!

.

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

I have seen you on many a TR
Then I saw your ticker which looks kinda like mine date wise
Then i saw chapter links

Hi!

Yeah, we tend to babble on on our PTRs/TRs, so I'm a big fan of the chapter links. Takes you on the direct route around our blathering. Kind of like the Carpool lane on I93 in the mornings.

ANYway...welcome! And thanks for stopping by.

Your plans look great though we wont be at the same place at the same time. I hope you have a pixie dust filled trip!!

Pity that the timing/plans aren't right for an impromptu DISmeet but I hope you have an absolutely FABULOUS trip!!!

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

If your household is anything like mine, I know two family members who are going to immediately take ownership of that new couch you're buyin'!

Yeah, unfortunately the couches we REALLY liked were leather and we aren't sure how they'll be with that.

And I don't want to find out by coming home one day to my leather couch being torn to shreds courtesy of Izzy and Dory!

We may get a leather ottoman to see how they do and then go from there.

Oh, and despite not being a bag person (NObaglady), yours are super cute!!.

Hey thanks!

 

[arbolita]

Hmm...sounds like I'll have to make my Home Depot trip within the next couple days and see if I can get a Mickey head before they're all out.

We also just got a gorillapod for this trip, mainly so I can try and take fireworks pictures. Let me know if you find out any tricks to get it to work, or good locations to set it up!

 

[creativeamanda]

Hmph. I'm a bag lady

And I love yours!

 

[Tinkerbellarella]

Hmm...sounds like I'll have to make my Home Depot trip within the next couple days and see if I can get a Mickey head before they're all out.

If you don't get there, let me know. I can make you a stencil and mail it on. From what I hear, I was lucky to get one.

We also just got a gorillapod for this trip, mainly so I can try and take fireworks pictures. Let me know if you find out any tricks to get it to work, or good locations to set it up!

Will do! I'm excited to try using it for the fireworks and MSEP!

Hmph. I'm a bag lady

And I love yours!

Bag Love. Isn't it grand?

And how excited am I for you that you have a solo trip in the works?!

 

[If U Had Wings]

I'm incredibly impressed with your organizational abilities and the fact that your already packed up for the most part. I was thinking of dragging my suitcases out this weekend, but couldn't be bothered in the end.

I have added a few things to my to-do list now thanks to you. Must get stamps for postcards. Check.

 

[PrincessV]

Not to get into the details but, when was the last time YOU had to have $5,150 by the end of Oct. with just a few week's notice???

I'm NOT laughing at you... I'm commiserating WITH you! I can answer that question: 2009. Okay, it was a hair less than that, but if we round to $5K, you've got my "the AC is DEAD and it's 98*" scenario last Oct. All I can say is I was up a creek. Without a condenser. Thank all that is cool and dry for Wells Fargo Home Improvement Visa.

And so everything was rolled. And packed. The verdict? I think it takes up the same darn amount of space. Whatever.

This makes me feel better. My rolling experiment had similar results. I thought maybe I didn't roll "right"... but how many ways are there to roll?!

Can you tell I'm getting a little excited now?

Which is a relief. Because I was really starting to worry I'd never get that "I'm going to Disney World!" feeling you get before the start of a trip. It was a little delayed in its arrival, but it's here now.

Yay - I'm so glad!