In the Game of Thrones, Princesses Always Win

[teekathepony]

I completely understand, I'm the same way about spending money! We have splurged for the photo pass cd the past three years and I'm having trouble justifying it.
Good luck on the color run! They look fun.
Yy for February hours!

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[disney-inspired]

Pre-Planning Jibber-Jabber​

AKA: February Park Hours, Where arrrrreeeee youuuuuuu?????

I'm going crazy here. And I know I'm not the only one. Based on a couple other threads, there are people who have hit their ADR window but the hours aren't posted yet. It's not making me terribly anxious, because I know what ADRs I need and will deal with the park hours. It's the last week in February, I'll be solo... it's shouldn't have a HUGE impact. But I still want to know so I can start really planning!

In the meantime, I've been studying this book and taking copious notes:

I know some of the stuff in here isn't valid anymore, but there should be plenty of ideas still. I love all the little factoids that we don't even know about and I can't wait to experience them and photograph them and journal about them and blather on about them for hours at a time to the extreme annoyance, oops I mean delight of my friends.

And when I'm done with that little piece of homework, I have a year's worth of these babies to sift through:

My friends and family think I'm crazy for taking notes on Disney stuff. I think they're crazy for thinking I'm crazy

When I'm not studying up, I've been on a movie binge. It all started when I popped We Bought a Zoo into my DVR. It made me giddy for Animal Kingdom.

Yes, yes I KNOW. It's not a zoo. Blah, blah, blah. But I'm pretty sure the whole "it's not a zoo" thing is used to counteract those THINK it's a zoo, and by so thinking that, decide they wouldn't like AK without ever setting foot in it. I'm clearly not in that camp. Besides, Matt Damon didn't star in a movie called We Bought DAK.

Since then I've seen:

• Monsters University (which I liked, but felt like I had already seen it because the plot of The Internship is verrrry similar and I had just seen that recently as well)
• Up
• Tangled
• Beauty and the Beast
• The Little Mermaid
• Tarzan (turned it off halfway through; it bored me)
• Finding Nemo
• The Princess and the Frog

Lucky for me, there is a Blockbuster between my house and my job. Yes, they still exist. AND the majority of their movies are (finally) 99 cents for five nights!

I've also started working on some Snapfish photo books of my six previous trips. I love these things. I used to be a huge scrapbooker, but I'm kind of veered toward the photo books in recent years. So I'll be happy to have a nice collection of books with my Disney memories.

Have a happy weekend, everyone!!!

Hmmm... what else can khaleesi spend money on??

YOU'RE A CELEBRATION MAGAZINE/TIM FOSTER/ LOU MONGELLO FAN TOO?

Do you listen to Lou's podcast WDWRadio? It is so much fun and it is definitely helping pass the time at work. Highly, HIGHLY, suggest it.

I am very into GOT myself. I have read 4 and part of 5. I stopped reading them awhile ago but it's good that you are pacing yourself on the show as it usually has a year-long hiatus between seasons. March 2014

 

[disney-inspired]

What's Another $120 in the Grand Scheme of Things?!​

I'm gonna let you in on a little secret. Spending money makes me twitchy. And even after I decided with 100% certainty that I was taking this trip... my finger still hovered over the mouse for a good two minutes before I clicked the "submit" button.

I'm really happy with my Disney Visa! Earning points to spend at Disney by booking a Disney trip?

Yes, please!!

So, now I present to you some photos from my last trip so we can play a little game called:

What Do These Photos All Have in Common?​

Give up?

Yeah... I'm not actually IN any of them. Which is exactly what every single picture from my last two trips look like. There are several reasons for this. The main reason is that I generally didn't like the way I look in photos.

However, I've recently lost some weight and more importantly, I stopped hiding behind my clothes. If I would have done that from the beginning, I probably would have liked the way I photographed a lot better!

So after a lot of thought, I've decided that I'm going to plop down the extra $120 to preorder the Photopass CD. That is a ridiculous amount of money in my opinion, but seeing other people's PP pictures has convinced me that it's worth it. And if I spend the money on it, I know I will actually USE it, as opposed to saying to myself that I can just have someone take the pictures for me using my camera. I haven't actually ordered it yet, but I figure I have time.

To change my mind. LOL.

On the movie front, I rented Mary Poppins and Ratatouille yesterday... and Cars and Wall-E were on TV the other day, so I recorded those to watch as well.

And... most importantly....

February park hours are FINALLY out!!! ​

With just about two weeks to spare before I can make my ADRs. I have my schedule figured out, as long as I can get the two reservations I want.

Crossing my fingers!

{Non Disney-related, but still pretty cool: I'm participating in The Color Run for the first time on Saturday!! I can't wait. I signed up for it at the beginning of February, and now it's here. That's what I had been counting down to before I booked my World trip!!! Yay!!!!}

I, too, am on a weight loss journey. So far down 30lbs I'm kinda stuck but rededicated for my January trip. I want to be more confident and happy to be in photos and not wince while looking at them later on.

Have you thought of joining a photopass share? I'm actually hosting one for a few in the January 2014 group. It really saves you a lot!

 

[khaleesi]

We Interrupt This PTR...​

... to bring you a COLOR RUN report, if you're willing to indulge me!

Back in, oh... IDK... last fall maybe? It was when I started pinning all kinds of workout and fitness related stuff on Pinterest. I kept seeing these colorful, fun pictures from a 5K of some sort. I didn't really know what they were at the time but did some Googling and found the information about the Color Run.

Sounded fun. Too bad it wasn't scheduled to take place in Buffalo. Boo.

Then sometime in mid-January, it was announced that the run WOULD be coming to Buffalo! I was so excited because it looked like an absolute blast. So on February 1st, I typed in my credit card info and was all signed up for the Happiest 5K on the Planet!

I convinced a couple friends to do it with me, and then had to wait over six months to actually be able to participate. The irony here is that the timeframe between signing up and today is eerily similar to the timeframe between booking my Disney trip and it actually getting here!

We got downtown bright and early around 7am this morning. There were SO MANY people! All those white shirts were kind of blinding. There were lots of people wearing tutus and a whole group of people with awesome yellow hats that looked like minions. Annoyed that I didn't snap a picture of them, because they were awesome.

We were sent out in waves, and at first we didn't understand what was taking so long... we would move a couple feet and then stop. The first runners actually finished before we had even gotten started. It was initially annoying, but as we were walking along, it was nice not being so bunched up. We finally got started... AFTER I snagged a pair of socks that these lovely gentlemen were throwing out into the crowd! Yay for me!

The first four kilometers were marked with a color and as you walked/ran through it, there were about ten people holding plastic squeeze bottles and shooting you with that color. It was kind of like being squirted with colored confectioners sugar (but not nearly as tasty. I immediately wanted a toothbrush!)

The four color stations were yellow, pink, orange, and blue.

At the Finish Festival, everyone threw their color packets into the air... everyone received a color with their race packets and you could buy more. Plus, the DJs (for lack of a better word) were tossing them out into the crowd.

If you had told me a year ago that the most fun I would have in 2013 was a 5K, I would have told you that you were insane. And I would have been wrong! I can't even tell you how much fun this was! If you get the opportunity to participate, DO IT!!!!! It was amazing.

Completely unexpected update right here.

 

[khaleesi]

I completely understand, I'm the same way about spending money! We have splurged for the photo pass cd the past three years and I'm having trouble justifying it.
Good luck on the color run! They look fun.
Yy for February hours!

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

I feel like I should not spend the money and just have people take pictures of me with my own camera, but I just know that I won't actually do that when the time comes.

YOU'RE A CELEBRATION MAGAZINE/TIM FOSTER/ LOU MONGELLO FAN TOO?

Do you listen to Lou's podcast WDWRadio? It is so much fun and it is definitely helping pass the time at work. Highly, HIGHLY, suggest it.

I am very into GOT myself. I have read 4 and part of 5. I stopped reading them awhile ago but it's good that you are pacing yourself on the show as it usually has a year-long hiatus between seasons. March 2014

I've never listed to a podcast of any sort... not sure why. I'll have to check it out though.

As for GoT, I've got 20% of the fifth book left and then I won't have anything until the sixth book comes out and who knows when that might be! *sigh*

I, too, am on a weight loss journey. So far down 30lbs I'm kinda stuck but rededicated for my January trip. I want to be more confident and happy to be in photos and not wince while looking at them later on.

Have you thought of joining a photopass share? I'm actually hosting one for a few in the January 2014 group. It really saves you a lot!

Good for you!!!!! I'm really looking forward to enjoying my pictures! I have never heard of a PP share... I'll have to check it out! Thanks!!

 

[disney-inspired]

I've never listed to a podcast of any sort... not sure why. I'll have to check it out though.

As for GoT, I've got 20% of the fifth book left and then I won't have anything until the sixth book comes out and who knows when that might be! *sigh*



Good for you!!!!! I'm really looking forward to enjoying my pictures! I have never heard of a PP share... I'll have to check it out! Thanks!!

Yes, definitely check it out. They are fun and share a lot of WDW history.

Thank you
I've seen a few shares here on the DIS, so you shouldn't have problems finding one.

 

[Lei]

Yay for The Color Run! A friend of mine participated in Singapore's Color Run a few weeks ago, and it looked so much fun. Running is not my choice of exercise, EVER, but if it is, this is probably one of the few running event I want to join. That, and the Zombie Run

I agree, if you have time, you should listen to some Disney Podcasts. I haven't heard Lou Mangelo's, but I've been listening to Dis Unplugged's. Such a fountain of (Disney) knowledge

Also, PP share sounds great!

 

[khaleesi]

The New Reason Why This Vacation Can't Come Soon Enough

So, when we left off I had just done the Color Run with my friends and had an absolute blast. The rest of the day went great. Did some grocery shopping (which I actually love) and chilled at home for the rest of the evening.

Then I woke up on Sunday.

With a headache and some dizziness. Oh yay.

Then my vision started going wonky. I was seeing double and had really bad pressure in my ear. Sinus infections can sometimes knock me out... I don't get them very often, but when I do they're brutal but I generally let them run its course. I REALLY hate overmedicating, so I just went back to bed.

And called in sick in the morning. Which I NEVER do.

THEN I called in sick on Tuesday, too. But early morning I realized it wasn't going away and that I needed some meds. I would never have been able to drive, so I called a friend and we headed out to UrgentCare.

Where I dealt with the NASTIEST doctor ever. Not an ounce of sympathy or compassion. And then she told me she was sending me to the hospital for a CAT scan and an MRI.

And I lost it. So my friend drove me to the hospital. Now, bear in mind that I am petrified of needles. And of course the first thing they did was draw blood.

Took vitals, did an exam, sent me for the CAT scan and then the MRI. And at approximately 1:30 on Wednesday morning, gave me the diagnosis of MS

At this point I was numb and kind of out of it. I hadn't eaten anything since Sunday, my whole family lives 1600 miles away, and I was so scared. Gave me a dose of steroids to help with the double vision and sent me home with an appointment to see a neurologist later that day.

The neurologist spent about five minutes with me before sending me to ANOTHER hospital, where I was admitted. More needles, more blood work, another MRI, this one lasting THREE hours, after which I started hyperventilating about two hours into it.

Spend three nights in the hospital, getting more steroids each day.

I am now getting the IV steroids at home once a month for six months, which will bring me right to my Disney vacation! Unfortunately, the remainder of my treatment (theoretically for the rest of my life) will involve self-injections once a week. All in all, a pretty cruel thing to do to someone with a needle phobia!

The good news? I was home on my 180-day mark and didn't have to worry about getting online before heading to work.

And I got my Be Our Guest reservation!!! I was also able to book tea at the Grand Floridian, so my plans are coming together. Hopefully I'll be able to start posting about all of that

MS is highly controllable. I can still take my trip, I can still go to the gym, I have been cleared to drive. With the steroids and the injections, I may never have another episode, which is obviously what the doctors are trying to accomplish. So, of course everyone thinks that's great... get a shot once a week, and live a long, healthy, unaffected life. In my head, the thought process is more along the lines of the solution being worse than the problem. Trying to reason with someone who has a phobia is a useless endeavor.

But I will be in Disney World in less than six months! Looking forward to it now more than ever. Partly because it may be the last vacation I EVER take after I get my hospital bill!

Wanna see where I'm going each day?

 

[khaleesi]

Daily Outline​

Staring at a computer screen at work all day has finally gotten better. I've worn glasses since I was in fourth grade and my eyes tend to bother me anyway... itchiness, eye strain, etc. After the double vision, that just got worse. I had some sensitivity to light for a while and if I tried reading the screen too quickly, it was uncomfortable.

It's finally better. I wouldn't say 100%, but probably 90-95% better. But after an 8-hour workday, turning the computer on when I got home wasn't high on my priority list. Which bums me out, because I want to read trip reports!!

I know most people put high expectations on their Disney trips, and my own expectations have increased ten-fold. This trip will be my reward for stabbing myself with needles and for getting IV steroids monthly for five months.

So without further ado, here is my bare-bones daily plan!

Sunday, February 23... Epcot

Monday, February 24... Animal Kingdom with morning EMH (not recommended by Josh, but I can't possibly imagine it being THAT bad)

Tuesday, February 25... Hollywood Studios

Wednesday, February 26... Magic Kingdom

That's all I got for right now! Have a great day, everyone!!

Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack... maybe...!

 

[khaleesi]

Baseball Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend​

Last weekend, my beloved Atlanta Braves FINALLY clinched the NL East. It took longer than I would have liked, but I'm happy that they did it!

How does this relate to a WDW PTR, you may ask?

Wellll... as you may or may not know, the Braves have their spring training at the Wide World of Sports Complex in WDW! AND I just discovered that their first spring training game is on February 26th, which is my last full day in WDW!!!!!

As if I haven't already crammed enough into this very quick trip, I am really hoping that I can catch at least part of the game. This is my Magic Kingdom day, ergo the day I have my Be Our Guest reservation. BUT... the game starts at 1:05 and I wouldn't necessarily need to stay for the whole thing.

The only problem I foresee is that I would need to head back to my resort fairly early to catch the bus to WWoS... and then back to the resort... and then back to MK. Because I'm an early riser, I have every intention of being at MK for rope drop. That would give me several hours in the park before I'd have to leave. Depending on long I stay for the game, I might not be back to the park until my BOG reservation.

Or I could just stay for an inning or two to say that I did it. I've never been to a spring training game, and I really think I'll regret it if I don't go, especially since it's MY team that would be playing.

*sigh*

What's a girl to do?

Up next... proof that money can, actually, buy happiness!

 

[emmysmommy]

Hi there! Just read through your fabulous PTR updates!

Sorry again about your diagnosis but you have a great attitude and it sounds like responding to treatment - even if evil injections! Argh!

Isn't that great when your love of baseball and your love of Disney collide!! Your plans all sound great. I love the idea of tea. I would do that one alone if I had to.

Yay for springing for the photopass! You gotta have some official WDW photos to commemorate all those character meet and greets.

I hope you are doing well. Thanks for sharing your story.

 

[khaleesi]

Hi there! Just read through your fabulous PTR updates!

Sorry again about your diagnosis but you have a great attitude and it sounds like responding to treatment - even if evil injections! Argh!

Isn't that great when your love of baseball and your love of Disney collide!! Your plans all sound great. I love the idea of tea. I would do that one alone if I had to.

Yay for springing for the photopass! You gotta have some official WDW photos to commemorate all those character meet and greets.

I hope you are doing well. Thanks for sharing your story.

Thank you!! You're so sweet!! I'm doing pretty well... better than I ever expected to be. I don't know that I'll ever get used to the needles, but I'm handling it with only a little bit of anxiety. It's amazing what you can do when you have no other choice!

Hopefully I can fit the baseball game in... if not, I figure I can at least go wander around for a while and look at the signs or something!! Haha.

Thanks for popping in!!

 

[teekathepony]

Oh my, I am so sorry to hear about your diagnosis. I also have a needle phobia, just the thought freaks me out, but you're right -- it's amazing what a person can do when they have no choice! I'm glad to hear how manageable it will be and that you're feeling better. I sincerely hope your needle phobia gets better and it gets easier for you!
The baseball game sounds like fun! I hope you have time to squeeze it in!

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[TinkerbellM6]

Subbing in!! We have SOOOO much in common! I am obsessed with Disney AND Thrones also! Taking a solo trip is totally on my bucket list but I have to wait for my kiddies to get older bc I can't imagine them letting me leave them behind just yet haha. We went this year from 2/26 to 3/4 and are planning our next trip for next October. Looking forward to "joining" you on your journey!

 

[khaleesi]

Oh my, I am so sorry to hear about your diagnosis. I also have a needle phobia, just the thought freaks me out, but you're right -- it's amazing what a person can do when they have no choice! I'm glad to hear how manageable it will be and that you're feeling better. I sincerely hope your needle phobia gets better and it gets easier for you!
The baseball game sounds like fun! I hope you have time to squeeze it in!

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Thanks so much!!! I still can't believe that I'm actually giving myself injections. It's beyond surreal. Luckily I only have to do it one more time before I can switch to an auto-inject pen... but I still have to look at the needles!! LOL. *shiver*

Subbing in!! We have SOOOO much in common! I am obsessed with Disney AND Thrones also! Taking a solo trip is totally on my bucket list but I have to wait for my kiddies to get older bc I can't imagine them letting me leave them behind just yet haha. We went this year from 2/26 to 3/4 and are planning our next trip for next October. Looking forward to "joining" you on your journey!

Haha... I can totally understand your kidlets being upset if you left them home and took off for Disney without them. Too cute!

 

[khaleesi]

Happy Disney Purchases​

So after my initial excitement over the baseball game, I think I've decided that it's just not going to work. As much as I'd like to go, I don't think I want to give up valuable park time to go to a game that isn't a "real" game.

So, to make up for that, I booked another dining reservation! I'll be enjoying a bowl of soup at Le Cellier and I cannot wait! And yes, that is probably all I'll be ordering. Hahaha. I bought the Quick Service Dining Plan, so I should probably take it easy on the reservations from here on out.

Look what I got in the mail last week!!!

I'm currently in the process of pouring over the book and taking copious notes... and making Excel spreadsheets! When I'm done, I will have a really good idea of what I plan on doing each day. So hopefully soon I'll be able to start posting more specific details! At the rate I'm going, I really need to go for at least three weeks. Ha.

The Minnie ears were a spur of the moment purchase. I'll be participating in a fundraiser walk for the MS society in a couple weeks and it's Halloween themed... they encourage dressing up. I'm not really a costume person, but after reading another Dis'ers trip report (this one right here), I'm inspired to turn myself into Minnie. AND I think I might also wear the ears on my trip!

As I was scrolling through Facebook yesterday, I came across a Walgreens ad for a new limited edition Disney Villains makeup collection! So guess where I headed, bright and early this morning?!

I'm so excited about that makeup case!! The inside of it is pink with pictures of little black apples all over it. Too cute.

The makeup kit came with:

• eyelid primer
• 6 eye shadows
• liquid eyeliner
• pencil eyeliner
• mascara
• lip gloss
• eye shadow brush

The eye shadow colors have cute names that go along with the character. In this case: flora, fauna, spell, deep sleep, thorns, raven black. In addition to Maleficent, they also had Cruella de Vil, the Evil Queen, and Ursula. There were also nail art collections and hair accessories for each character.

The best part of all of this? Before tax, the two things I bought cost $15!!! Total! (Regular price $10 each, but everything was 25% off!) The cosmetics are by ELF, which I use frequently. I'm not a high-end makeup kind of girl. So I was ridiculously excited by this purchase today! I don't anticipate ANY of this stuff being there even I go back tomorrow so I'm glad I was up and at 'em early!

I'd like to have a moment of silence for my Blockbuster that is in the process of closing My Disney movie marathon days are over, I guess. Truthfully, I'm surprised this one stayed open as long as it did. But I'm sad. The good news is... I think I'm gonna go see Planes today to get my fix!

Have a great Saturday, everyone!!

Epcot, anyone??

 

[LB1122]

So enjoying reading about your trip. I so think a solo trip would be amazing. I have a 7-year-old so like someone else mentioned I can not imagine going without her just yet,but someday...my hubby may disagree seeing as he Loves Disney as well, but maybe???

You look to have some special plans and I know it will be amazing.

My dear college roommate has MS and the shots have changed her life. She was one of the early ones to use the type she gets and when she responded so well her doctors were amazed. Before she also had the blurred vision and has not had anything in so long. She is pregnant with her second child and doing great. She had to get over the needle thing as well, and now years later finds it hard to believe she had a problem. Give it time.

Glad to be along for the ride. Love the Minnie Ears and PhotoPass is amazing.

 

[teekathepony]

That villains make up bag is so adorable! Great buy.
I love spreadsheet planning time! Can't wait to hear all the plans.

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[khaleesi]

So enjoying reading about your trip. I so think a solo trip would be amazing. I have a 7-year-old so like someone else mentioned I can not imagine going without her just yet,but someday...my hubby may disagree seeing as he Loves Disney as well, but maybe???

You look to have some special plans and I know it will be amazing.

My dear college roommate has MS and the shots have changed her life. She was one of the early ones to use the type she gets and when she responded so well her doctors were amazed. Before she also had the blurred vision and has not had anything in so long. She is pregnant with her second child and doing great. She had to get over the needle thing as well, and now years later finds it hard to believe she had a problem. Give it time.

Glad to be along for the ride. Love the Minnie Ears and PhotoPass is amazing.

Solo trips are wonderful. The huge trip I took with my family was amazing, but I love being able to do everything I want, when I want. I'm usually a "go with the flow" type person, but at Disney I really love just being able to do things my way.

I've had so many people tell me of friends and family members who are living very normal, healthy lives with MS and it has helped tremendously. Thank you!!!

Glad to have you along!! Off to check out your report shortly

That villains make up bag is so adorable! Great buy.
I love spreadsheet planning time! Can't wait to hear all the plans.

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Thanks!! I can't wait to take it to Disney with me!!!

The problem with planning a trip so far in advance is that once I'm done planning, I won't have anything to keep me occupied until I leave. Haha.

I know yours is getting close!!!

 

[LB1122]

My Walgreens did not have the Snow Whites Queen bag...so need to find that one before my trip