Billie!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm back-ishI am going to do my very best to be a better Diser... and your trip is getting SO close!!!!!! I'm re-following along
It's My Birthday and I'll Disney if I Want To!
(Counting Down Until my 35th Birthday Trip)
A December 2015 Pre-Trip Report
Hi, everybody! I just returned yesterday from my first ever SOLO trip to Walt Disney World! It was a WONDERFUL trip... So wonderful that I'm already planning the next one!I do hope you'll join me, and keep me company as I while away the months, weeks, days, and hours until my big fat birthday trip to Walt Disney World!
THE DETAILS:
Who: Myself, my Aunt Debby, and my Uncle Mark!
What: My 11th visit to Walt Disney World, and their 1st!
When: December 4-11, 2015
Where: Disney's Art of Animation Resort
Why: Because it's my birthday, and I'll Disney if I wanna!
THE BIRTHDAY PARTY:
ME: Billie, 34 years old
~ WDW planning is my life. I work as a travel agent and my favorite part of my job are my Walt Disney World clients. I wish I could say I'm a lifelong WDW junkie, but sadly that's just not the case. I have memories my first trip when I was 5 years old, with my mother and father and grandmother. But coming from a family who doesn't vacation, I wasn't exposed to WDW again until I was 17 and a senior in high school. We came down for "Grad Night," but being thrill-seeking teenagers, Disney was boring and Universal was more fun. (I'm hanging my head in shame even as I type this!) Fortunately, a year and a half later, a good friend who did have a love of Disney invited me to join her on a trip at the beginning of January 2000. And wouldn't you know it, I had the most amazing time, and I cried the night we left. I finally understood the magic, and I have been hooked ever since, returning as often as possible! Thanks to a combination of poor finances and no traveling companion, it took me nearly 5 years to get "home" again, the longest I've EVER gone between WDW trips as an adult, and I swore I'd never let that happen again. And now being back from my Sept. 2014 trip with a killer case of the post-Disney blues, I figure it's time to start planning the next one!
Favorite Character: Minnie Mouse
Favorite Movie: Beauty and the Beast
Favorite Princess: Belle
Favorite Song: Someday My Prince Will Come
Favorite Park: Epcot, with Magic Kingdom a VERY close second! (Almost too close to call!)
Favorite Ride: I'm incapable of choosing one over all favorite! However, my favorites in each park are Splash Mountain, Soarin', Tower of Terror, and Kilimanjaro Safaris.
Favorite Show: Illuminations, but Celebrate the Magic is slowly starting to edge it out!
I'll need to interview my aunt and uncle and steal some photos off of their FB page so I can add info sections about them. Will work on that soon.
__________________________________________________________
THE UPDATES:
09/30/14: It Begins!
10/01/14: Booked!
10/04/14: Not-So-Solo Anymore
11/18/14: The Preemptive Planning Madness
11/28/14: Happy Turkey Day!
12/02/14: It's Almost My Birthday!
12/03/14: Okay, NOW It's My Birthday!
12/04/14: One Year From Today, Ya'll!
12/12/14: Mickey Mail
12/13/14: Magic Kingdom Must-Do's
12/15/14: Christmas is Coming!
12/17/14: Epcot Must-Do's
12/23/14: Hollywood Studios Must-Do's
12/27/14: Happy Holidays, Ya'll!
12/31/14: Happy New Year!
01/12/15: Animal Kingdom Must-Do's
02/07/15: DisneyBounding?
02/11/15: Sushi Night
02/14/15: Happy Valentines Day!
03/07/15: Rebooted ADR Wishlist & Cheap Park Hoppers
03/12/15: Ramblings and Bits & Bobs
03/21/15: Tickets and Countdown Widgets
03/23/15: Soooooo... This Just Happened...
03/23/15: Movin' It to A New PTR
04/10/15: Whining About MVMCP
04/20/15: DISapalooza Diagon Alley Party
05/01/15: Sicky-Poo
05/05/15: Can I PLEASE Have Some Park Hours?
05/11/15: December Park Hours, and Happy Mothers Day!
05/12/15: The Spreadsheets Begin...
05/18/15: 200 Days to Go!
05/23/15: Candlelight Processional?
05/25/15: Retail Therapy
05/29/15: ADR Babbling, and Kitty Shenanigans
05/31/15: Show Me Those FurBabies!
06/03/15: Prepping for ADR Day, and The Princess Club
06/06/15: ADR Eve... I Got This!
06/07/15: Finally, ADR Success!!!
06/08/15: Just a Recap and... Puppies!
06/17/15: By Popular Demand... A BORING Update!
06/22/15: Booked for 2016, Woo!, and MagicBand Decals
07/05/15: Deflecting a DIS Mobscene, and Pants are EVIL
07/13/15: My Very First Sorta Touring Plan
07/14/15: See? I Listen To Ya'lls Advice Sometimes!
07/20/15: Landry's Club Card, and More Touring Plan Revisions
07/27/15: Mad Paint Skillz, Yo
08/03/15: Shiny New Laptop, and Iron-On Party!
08/10/15: Minnie's Holiday Dining, and Other Stuff
08/17/15: Star Wars Launch Bay, Swanky Magic Bands, and a Food Crisis!
08/24/15: MagicBand and Park Bag Shopping (Yes, Again!)
08/27/15: Double-Digits Dance Party!
09/04/15: 3 Months! And the Great Bag Debate: Resolved
09/08/15: Spreadsheet Tweaks and Real Life Venting
09/14/15: Universal Tickets, More Shopping, and The BoG/MSEP Conflict
09/21/15: The Packing List, More Retail Therapy, and Our Sweet Ride!
That IS exciting! Your trip is so close now, girl!
A few of the shirts I'm taking came from Walmart, they often have really cute tees!
Amazon does too, though. When you're there, check out the brands Penningtons, and Avenue. Both can be on the pricey side, but once they clearance tops, they knock 'em down to like $13 bucks! 
Thanks! I'm happy with how it turned out!
Yeah, it'll be more than enough room for the three of us and our suitcases. I'm exciteddddd!
Well duh, of course I gotta remember to pack it! (Then again, if I were to "forget" to bring my tiara, then I would have an excuse to buy another one when I get there... Hmm, maybe I need to rethink this...I love how you have "Tiara" on your packing list. It's an essential item!!
)Perfect! That was the idea!
It's the best! I couldn't find it at Walmart the night I looked. I know I could have gone to a drugstore like Walgreen's and they would have had it, but meh... Lazy.
And I already knew I could get it on Amazon and was planning on ordering a bunch of stuff anyhow! Just be careful with the older bands. I've been told that the long-range battery in them dies after about a year. That's the one that picks up your ride photos and such. And since I always get Memory Maker, that's a big deal to me. So retire my MagicBands after 12 months, just to be safe!
Yes, I'm super excited! Plus it needs some miles on it, which I'm happy to deliver! (My grandmother has had it for over a year and has only put 1,400 miles on it in that time!!!)Awesome ride you have there for your trip! Always good to have a comfortable car for road trips!
Oh man, it was an ordeal, those pants...
Man, I used to pack that way. My brain is so disorganized, though... I'd always end up at my destination with only half of what I needed, and then a bunch of stuff I didn't!Wow, you are very organized. Probably a far superior method of packing than my last minute method of throwing what I can find into a suitcase and hoping for the best.
Laugh at my list all you want! I'll be the first to admit that it's pretty OCD... It's a necessary evil, though. If I tried to just trust myself to do it without a list, I'd end up in Disney with a tiara, one sneaker, toothpaste but no toothbrush, 23 t-shirts, and zero pants. Seriously. I'm a TERRIBLE packer if I don't write out an itemized list!!!
They have some super-cute stuff!
Thanks! I'm so glad it turned out okay!
We are BALLERS, yo!
I love this summary! I'm making my list, I'm checkin' it twice!
And yes, please come narrate my CP, please!Exaaaaactly why I have to make the list!!!
Me either! I'm excited!
YOU'RE BACK!!!Billie!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm back-ish
She will too, she's so popular!!!Then you'll probably support the fact that I've now purchased a second pearl cage pendant, a rose, so that I can decide which one works better once I have my pearl.
Tah-dah! http://www.amazon.com/Frogg-Toggs-A...xgy_468_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=1Y10RYTH8FZQ7H10NP5M
It's purrrrrrty! I'm so excited she's letting us run away with it for the week!
I am always on the fence about bringing water nice water bottles. I love them, but more in theory than in practice. So I usually just start my day with a bottle of water from my room fridge, and then throughout the day pop by snack carts and counter service places to get my free ice water, that way it's less for me cart around.
Hey, just be glad I refrained from posting those pictures...Thanks for letting us know how many bras and undies needed too...
You and me both, girl! 73 more days!
Totally socially acceptable... at least in DIS circles. I wouldn't advertise it to non-Disney people, though. They might think we're crazy.
Thank you for your diligence!
You know, I don't! I'm in the camp of folks who thinks our everyday lives are a bit over-santitized. Now. That being said... I did come home from my last two WDW trips with a cold. That place is like an incubator for germs. So. Now that you've mentioned it, I might actually slip a small bottle of it in my Park Bag. Couldn't hurt, right? And may help me come home a little healthier than the last two trips. (If only I can remember to actually USE the stuff!)
AH-HA!
You're right, I totally forgot about those! Typically the only jewelry I wear is a right-hand diamond ring (I feel naked without it). But those Mickey earrings I bought, you're so right! I forgot about them because I haven't worn them in a while, due to losing the back off of one of them. I've been meaning to buy replacement backs, but totally forgot to! Onto the shopping list those go! Actually! I have a pretty awesome little manicure kit, which is indeed on the packing list. It's a small pouch-like thing, and you unzip it on the side, and it opens up like a book. On one side is tweezers, nail file, nail clippers, etc. On the other side is thread in a few different basic colors, needles, and a little pair of scissors! So it's a little travel manicure/sewing kit combined.
I've fortunately never had a need to use the sewing side of it, but you're absolutely right, it's nice to have in a pinch!Thanks! I like my shirts.
I hope the ponchos live up to their claims! Oh, good... Well, at least it's Christmas time, so if I jingle, it'll be fine!
Yes, I was reading that as well! The extra "Ooops!" decals are very reassuring!
We're gonna be riding in STYLE, girl! I'm excited!
I knoooooooooow, omg omg omg!
and yes, I have done that 
and sweet ride you scored, that should make for some smooth traveling 
When I feel like I might want to leave the house after dinner, it just doesn't happen because I will have to put a bra on. And that just isn't happening. I am happy to announce that our ride for this trip... is a 2015 Dodge Journey.
(in my mind, this guy is wearing a bow tie...so fancy)Still no CP narrator for Dec. 10th.
2 weeks until FastPass+ time!!!!
and YOU'RE BACK!!!
I'VE MISSED YOU!!! DON'T LEAVE ME AGAIN!!!
I have to be that organized! When I try to pack without an itemized list, things goes very very wrong.
That would make packing just that much easier, if nothing else.At first I read " pillowcase with Aleve". I was all , wow! They make pillowcases with pain reliever! Ok, not...but would be very cool for those headache days!
Man, that tattoo+nail polish thing is just way too crafty for me. I get exhausted and frustrated just thinking about it!Cute new tops! And I love the MB decals! So much better than painting them with nail polish and temporary tattoos! That's sooooo old school
Thanks! I'm glad they worked out, because I had no clue what I was gonna do if the didn't!I really like how your park bag strap extensions came out, nice work!
Yes, the roadtrip part of our adventure will be pretty sweet now, I think!and sweet ride you scored, that should make for some smooth traveling
You said "What the french fry!"
Bahaha! I love this gif! I might re-use this when it's time for the TR!
#thisiswhywerefriends
You know, I used to carry those, because I agree it's a totally good idea, but then I found that I never used them! So I quit. (And of course, now that I've quit, I'll inevitably have a reason to need them!)
I hope so! I just wish the carry case for it was more compact. It really is huge!
Oh dude, any errands I need to run or things I need to handle HAVE to get done after work and before I get back to my apartment. Because once I'm home, that's it. I go from front door to jammies in about 60 seconds. And once the pants/socks/bra are off and the nightgown is on... That's it. Game over. See you tomorrow (at the earliest)!Again, this is why we are friends.
I sure hope so! I just have one more that I'm waiting on, the black & white one. Once it arrives, all of my shirts designated for the trip will be all lined up a pretty row in the super-special DO NOT TOUCH UNTIL DISNEY! section of my closet. (The capris and nightgowns that I'm taking are in that section already as well!)I think this looks good! Even with a few more rings I think it will look nice. And it should match very well with your new shirts!
It is a guy wearing a bowtie, and he's super FANCY! Just like the sweet ride we'll be driving!Fancy!!
I KNOW, RIGHT?! This stuff is bananas!
ZOMGGGG! Are you ready? I feel like I'm ready, but I have a suspicion that I'm not. A lot of people have apparently been trouble getting those three FP+ between 4-7pm before their MVMCP party.
And I have a lot riding on those (including 7DMT), so I'm praying it's just user error on their part, and that I won't have any trouble getting what I have planned for! Amazon!
I buy my whole LIFE on Amazon, it's ridiculous. Here's the link... http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00XX3VK82?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00Girl, you are WELL within acceptable packing timeframe! Go ahead and get them suitcases out!!! How exciting!
Yes, all the pieces are clicking into place quite nicely!
Let's hope the trend continues...I'm the opposite. Half a day at Universal Orlando, and I'm good. I'm too Pooh-sized to ride most of the rides, and the only thing I'm all that interested in anyhow are the two Harry Potter sections. I wouldn't be going at all on this trip if it weren't for my aunt & uncle, who have never been and big HP fans also, and are dying to see the Wizarding World.
So I worked in a day there just for them. Oh, good! I'm glad they work as well as they claim! I just hope it's worth hauling the huge things around with us!Forgot to tell you, we bought a couple of the Frogg Togg ponchos for our trip last year and we loved them!! Much more breathable and lighter weight than the nasty plastic ones that stick to your skin! Hopefully you won't need them, but if you do they are great !!
I'm going to hold you to that, lady!I've missed you too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'll never leave you, Billie!!!
It seems like forever ago I stumbled on this trip report and saw our travel days were close.
I happened upon your PTR since we will be at WDW during the same time! We will be there 12/5 through 12/13 staying at AoA. I've enjoyed reading about how other you are planning your trip and getting any ideas I can! We haven't been to WDW since 2009 (and first time with a kiddo - who will be turning 5 while we are there!), so everything is so different!
I have no idea, that's the problem with online shopping! The carriage has arrived, I'm just waiting on the rose now, then I can compare them.
Hahaha, no! But I guess the material they're made from is supposed to be lighter and more breathable that the typical plastic/PVC that ponchos are made from... Thereby keeping you cooler.
No no no! Not "Pop" by snack carts, like to order soda. I meant "Pop by" like "Stop at snack carts." And get free water. Not soda. Or POP! Silly Northerner!!
I dunno, girl... FREE makes everything taste better to me!!!
Welcome back, girl!All caught back up after being MIA for a little bit. It's almost time
I know, it's been ages, hasn't it?!FINALLY. I was wondering how long it would take for somebody to notice that! (The rest of you are all SLACKERS!
)I have a pile of "Disney Stuff" growing in my guest room too!
Hooray!Hi!
If you see a big silly short-haired brunette lady scootin' around AoA on her pink ECV, be sure to offer me a high-five! Actually, here's insider info from my friend (because I said as much to him once, too): The Hogwarts Express was never intended to be a "ride," despite how cool they made it. The core intent was to have the train go back and forth between London and Hogsmeade, just like in the books, and replicate that experience for guests, especially the ones who came to the parks primarily to experience the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and to provide a seamless transition between the two areas. But they envisioned it as being used for transportation, not a regular ride. It's intended to take guests from one park to the other, which of course you need a Park-to-Park ticket for. It doesn't have the capacity for people who just want to ride it like it's an attraction. If they allowed people do that, just ride it back and forth without actually getting off and entering the other park, the lines for it would be miles long. So I mean, I get it, and I honestly don't think it was done just to try and force people into buying that Park-to-Park ticket. (Though I'm sure they're not sad about that, either!)
I'm thinking of buying a new tiara for this trip! Mine is getting this weird gold-ish discoloration on the metal.
Hi there!
I could probably fly with it! I'm happy to pay the luggage fee for one checked bag if it's a week-long trip. My intent is to get it all into one suitcase, a carry-on, and a purse. I bet I could keep the suitcase under 50 pounds, too! The list is long, but much of it is small things. The only things I wouldn't be bringing if I was flying is the grocery items.
Thanks! I'm glad it looks okay. Now the real test will be seeing how much I like it once I'm there and using it!
I'm all about color coding stuff. I remember as far back as high school, back when I still actually would handwrite things... I had probably every highlighter color in existence for color-coding my notes and schedules.
Yes, I am! They are for wearing to MVMCP on our arrival night.
Yaaaay! December babies are the BESTEST!
Hmmm, I hadn't thought about it really! To me, the entire trip is special to celebrate my birthday!
