Leaving the hubbies and kids behind - A May 2010 PTR, TR has begun!

[kschafer]

OK, how lame am I? Last night I was watching TV and a commercial for WDW came on with those awesome Mickey balloons floating through the air and I actually teared up thinking “I’m going to Disney in 22 days!” Aw, who am I kidding…you all understand!

Some excitement to celebrate the 3 week mark!!​

First, I am thrilled to say that touringplans has actually dropped their crowd predictions since we first planned this trip so we are looking at all 4’s and 5’s except for our final day which is a 6. Last trip was all 8’s and 9’s so I am VERY excited about this!!

Second, I am planning on updating from WDW on FB and posting some pics along the way so if we aren’t already friends, PM me and we will set it up!

Yesterday was the day I have been anticipating for the last week. I know the mailman’s route as he delivers to the office building down the street, drives through the church parking lot across from us then to our driveway where he stops to drop our mail. This morning I anxiously watched his route and got very excited when I looked out and saw him carrying a box. What was in it?


















Mickey Mail of course!!

Final documents, luggage and ME tags along with a Birnbaums and gift card from my TA.

Yesterday was also the day I had designated for making shirts so first I give you, the bleach pen shirt

I think it turned out cute, I’m debating going over it again to see if I can lighten the lines a bit but it is not easy to avoid bleach transfer as you are preparing to clean it up so I’m not sure if I will or not. Also the shirt generally lightened in it's final wash and I want it a darker purple so I guess I will leave it. I still have Beth’s to make because I need to find a shirt for her. The bleach pen bled out farther than I expected so I will make the swirls a little farther apart on hers.

Also, I made this for Beth. I have never used iron-on transfers before and I guess I was expecting them to be clear. The white surprised me so although I like this design, I don’t care for the trim job (I didn’t realize it would show up) Are there different kinds of transfers that are clear? I don’t remember seeing other peoples shirts look like this.

I have 1 of these because the first one I started to iron, I realized I had forgotten to take the backing off. So I will have to pick up another transfer to finish the second

And 1 of these for each of us to wear to our CP breakfast… I love the design!

And finally, this is not for my trip but I had to share because I know how many of you love them

On St Patrick’s Day, someone on the dis posted that Vera was having a sale on hipsters AND there was a code so for only $17, I picked up this baby. I had been wanting a new everyday purse and this is working out great!

I can't believe I am down to 21 days!! Now we just have to get Beth well so she can come...send her some pixie dust

 

[Charleston Princess]

I always tear up when I see WDW commercials -- even when I don't have a trip planned.

I love mail and Mickey mail is the best kind! Your TA was so sweet to send you the guidebook and gift card!

Your shirts turned out very cute! I think if you use dark transfers, they don't have the white around them.

I have that exact hipster! Love it!

 

[kschafer]

I always tear up when I see WDW commercials -- even when I don't have a trip planned.

I love mail and Mickey mail is the best kind! Your TA was so sweet to send you the guidebook and gift card!

Your shirts turned out very cute! I think if you use dark transfers, they don't have the white around them.

I have that exact hipster! Love it!

I thought of you when I choose that hipster! I like Veras's bright colors OK but for my everyday purse I prefer something a bit more subtle

I thought I had heard that the dark shirt transfers are better so that's what I got I will buy a different brand for the next one and see if that makes a difference

 

[manntra]

Hey there Katie!!!
Only THREE weeks from today!!!
Love your t-shirts!! The bleach pen design turned out awesome! Mine would probably look like an amoeba!
Don't you love your hipster? That is the kind I carry everyday and have lots of patterns
Yay for your Mickey Mail!! And yes....I understand the commercials That song....
That's great news about the crowds too....I have never been in May so I had no idea what to expect....other than margaritas and flowers hahahhahaha

Tracy

 

[SoonerGirl]

Oh, I totally get the getting emotional when watching WDW commercials - I have been known to get that way myself on occasion!

Yay for Mickey Mail! And for cute t-shirts! And for low crowds! And for 3 weeks!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

I love Disney commercials too --- especially the "too excited to sleep" ones. I can't believe you are under 3 weeks to your trip! I am so excited for you and will be looking forward to FB updates! Your shirts came out cute. Love the bleach pen idea.

Hurrah for Mickey Mail... have you memorized the Birnbaum guide yet?

 

[Native NYer]

I love the t-shirt you made with the bleach pen. Very clever!
Yay for your trip being so close

 

[kcandbella]

I have been known not only to tear up during commercials, but also when I read TR's and ppl cross that big sign that lets you know you're on property...I'm getting goosebumps just thinking about it.

I will PM you about FB...I will probably be doing the same thing.

Okay, here is the issue with iron on transfers. I think they look really cute, but the white thing threw me at first too. There are two different kinds of transfer paper: light and dark. If you use light, ALL the white spots will show up clear. This is good for lettering, but for pictures, the whites of eyes, Donald's feathers, etc. EVERYTHING white will be the color of the shirt. Dark transfer paper is the opposite, which is what you used. The white spots show up white. So it's not as good for lettering because if you don't want the spots in between letters to show up, you have to trim it ALL. But it is better for pictures because everything that is supposed to be white is. You just have to trim around them really well. So there it is in a nutshell...transfer paper science. Thank you to the DISigns board for teaching me all I know.

I do really like that sprial Mickey head shirt, too. I haven't seen that before. Very cute!

And for the crowd calendar! I am excited about that too!

THREE WEEKS!

 

[MEK]

Katie -

I am so excited to hear that the crowd levels will be a 4 - 5. That is awesome! I think my September trip spoiled me with the low crowds, so it will be nice to have some of the same!

Love the Vera bag and the T-shirts. As usual, I have no special bag and no special shirts. Oh well, I did start packing some summer clothes today and I bought my coffee and a couple bottles of wine for the trip (I have a special way to pack them - I love that SWA doesn't charge for bags cause they get there own).

I wish I would get some Mickey mail, but I don't have that excitement with DVC and we are renting a car, so I wont even get the ME tags.

I hope Beth gets better real soon. I was just massively ill, so I know how she feels. I am just glad I got that out of the way.

 

[100acrewoodsfan]

I completely understand about the commercials. I make my husband rewind so I can watch them whenever he fast forwards through commercials. The shirts came out great you are inspiring me to me some for our trip!

 

[Happy Elf]

YAY for Mickey Mail!!!

I love the purple shirt, that turned out so cool!

 

[sunny_stace]

I'm the same way with the Disney commercials! Only I will sit there and point at the TV with a huge, goofy grin on my face until it is over! Yes, I have problems! Today I was doing my happy dance in the staff lounge at work since I realized it was my last Saturday to work before I go! Some other people came in while I was in the middle of it and laughed at
me! They're just jealous!

Yay for three weeks!
Yay for Mickey Mail!
Yay for cute shirts!
Yay for cute, cheap Vera's!

Your bleach pen shirt worked out great! I decided not to try it in the end since I will likely screw it up in some way! Your's really looks fantastic!

 

[MHTeacher]

YAY for your Mickey Mail, and YAY YAY for 3 weeks!

I love the bleach pen shirt. I am definitely going to try some of those for our May trip.

Of course, I love the Vera hipster---Caffe' Latte---How can you not love a purse with a coffee inspired name?

 

[PrincessInOz]

That VB is gorgeous...as are the Tshirts.
(PrincessDownUnder) is officially jealous!

Man...I am so going to have to rethink my anti-FB stand!!

I'm excited to see your Mickey Mail....still waiting for mine, which is on its way via my TA.

 

[SoonerGirl]

Man...I am so going to have to rethink my anti-FB stand!!

I know! I don't have one either, I'm resisting with every fiber of my being I don't need another addiction!

Wonder if my teenage son would mind if I added my DIS friends to his facebook friend list..........

 

[kschafer]

Hey there Katie!!!
Only THREE weeks from today!!!
Love your t-shirts!! The bleach pen design turned out awesome! Mine would probably look like an amoeba!
Don't you love your hipster? That is the kind I carry everyday and have lots of patterns
Yay for your Mickey Mail!! And yes....I understand the commercials That song....
That's great news about the crowds too....I have never been in May so I had no idea what to expect....other than margaritas and flowers hahahhahaha

Tracy

"It's the Time of your Life!!"

Margaritas, flowers and friends are enough reason to be super excited for this trip but low crowds...awesome!!

Oh, I totally get the getting emotional when watching WDW commercials - I have been known to get that way myself on occasion!

Yay for Mickey Mail! And for cute t-shirts! And for low crowds! And for 3 weeks!

Just think, a year ago I was convinced it would be 2011 before I was able to return and the commercials made my heart ache. I will take the tears of joy anyday!

I love Disney commercials too --- especially the "too excited to sleep" ones. I can't believe you are under 3 weeks to your trip! I am so excited for you and will be looking forward to FB updates! Your shirts came out cute. Love the bleach pen idea.

Hurrah for Mickey Mail... have you memorized the Birnbaum guide yet?

I miss the "too excited" commercial! That's how I'm starting to feel

I'm actually not too far into Birnbaum's, I'm savoring it in little bites

I love the t-shirt you made with the bleach pen. Very clever!
Yay for your trip being so close

Thanks! I can't take credit, I got the directions off the disigns board...lot of very creative things over there that I couldn't possibly come up with!

I have been known not only to tear up during commercials, but also when I read TR's and ppl cross that big sign that lets you know you're on property...I'm getting goosebumps just thinking about it.

Okay, here is the issue with iron on transfers. I think they look really cute, but the white thing threw me at first too. There are two different kinds of transfer paper: light and dark. If you use light, ALL the white spots will show up clear. This is good for lettering, but for pictures, the whites of eyes, Donald's feathers, etc. EVERYTHING white will be the color of the shirt. Dark transfer paper is the opposite, which is what you used. The white spots show up white. So it's not as good for lettering because if you don't want the spots in between letters to show up, you have to trim it ALL. But it is better for pictures because everything that is supposed to be white is. You just have to trim around them really well. So there it is in a nutshell...transfer paper science. Thank you to the DISigns board for teaching me all I know.

ooh, I love the sign too! I'm going to have to remember to take a pic from ME!

oh man! I should have consulted with you before buying the transfer paper! Obviously it is fine for the princess shirt and it doesn't bother me much on the Tigger/Pooh shirt but I really dislike it on the balloon one. Can you remove those somehow and start over? I may just do that one over if I need to, I found the shirts for $2 so it's not like I invested a lot in them, I just don't want the hassle of starting ALL over.

I am so excited to hear that the crowd levels will be a 4 - 5. That is awesome! I think my September trip spoiled me with the low crowds, so it will be nice to have some of the same!

Love the Vera bag and the T-shirts. As usual, I have no special bag and no special shirts. Oh well, I did start packing some summer clothes today and I bought my coffee and a couple bottles of wine for the trip (I have a special way to pack them - I love that SWA doesn't charge for bags cause they get there own).

I wish I would get some Mickey mail, but I don't have that excitement with DVC and we are renting a car, so I wont even get the ME tags.

I hope Beth gets better real soon. I was just massively ill, so I know how she feels. I am just glad I got that out of the way.

Low crowds!!

Beth and I are debating about sharing 1 large bag for check-in on the way there. It would save us $30 round-trip (hey don't laugh, that's 3 grey goose!) but I'm not sure I want to hassle with both a carry-on size suitcase and my computer bag at the airports. Did you see that Spirt Air will now be charging for carry-on luggage as well

Unfortunately, Beth's illness is a long term thing but she is very hopeful that this procedure she is going to have done will finally bring her relief. She knows someone who knows someone who had it done and it was almost instant turnaround so I am sending her daily pixie dust

I completely understand about the commercials. I make my husband rewind so I can watch them whenever he fast forwards through commercials. The shirts came out great you are inspiring me to me some for our trip!

Thanks, they were more intimidating than difficult. Now with my transfer lesson from Kayce, I would be willing to do them again.

 

[kschafer]

YAY for Mickey Mail!!!

I love the purple shirt, that turned out so cool!

Thanks Janell!

I'm the same way with the Disney commercials! Only I will sit there and point at the TV with a huge, goofy grin on my face until it is over! Yes, I have problems! Today I was doing my happy dance in the staff lounge at work since I realized it was my last Saturday to work before I go! Some other people came in while I was in the middle of it and laughed at
me! They're just jealous!

Yay for three weeks!
Yay for Mickey Mail!
Yay for cute shirts!
Yay for cute, cheap Vera's!

Your bleach pen shirt worked out great! I decided not to try it in the end since I will likely screw it up in some way! Your's really looks fantastic!

Aww, it was pretty easy really, I just was nervous about the bleach transfer during clean-up. If I didn't screw it up, anyone can do it!!

I would love to see your happy dance! I usually do it in the bedroom or bathroom where someone won't walk in on me

YAY for your Mickey Mail, and YAY YAY for 3 weeks!

I love the bleach pen shirt. I am definitely going to try some of those for our May trip.

Of course, I love the Vera hipster---Caffe' Latte---How can you not love a purse with a coffee inspired name?

Can't wait to see your shirts!

I think the name is definitely part of the appeal of the Vera!

That VB is gorgeous...as are the Tshirts.
(PrincessDownUnder) is officially jealous!

Man...I am so going to have to rethink my anti-FB stand!!

I'm excited to see your Mickey Mail....still waiting for mine, which is on its way via my TA.

Come on Mickey Mail!!!

Seriously, the shirts were NOT that hard!

I know! I don't have one either, I'm resisting with every fiber of my being I don't need another addiction!

Wonder if my teenage son would mind if I added my DIS friends to his facebook friend list..........

Here's my take on FB...I resisted too. I actually joined because of someone here on the Dis but now I keep in touch with lots of family who I don't see often, my parents get to see pics of the boys when they are gone for the winter, I keep up with college friends and watch their kids be born and grow, AND I have reconnected with old friends...and that includes Beth. I used to say I had enough friends I don't keep in touch with but actually, this has helped me stay in touch!

 

[kcandbella]

Unfortunately I don't think there is a way to remove them. You probably could get the transfer off if you tried hard enough but there would still be a shadow of it underneath. It would be a lot less work to just start over if you aren't happy with it, especially if the shirt was so inexpensive!!!

 

[kschafer]

Guess who got a PIN code! It is good for 35% off a mod resort stay. We booked originally for the last 3 nights as room-only with a 30% off code so this won’t be a huge difference but $30 is 3 grey geese! I’m waiting to hear back from our TA to find out if we can still apply this to our ressie.

I finally scanned the pictures I snagged from my parents house so we can flashback even further.

First let’s visit 1974…

I was 3 years old, older brother was 5, younger brother was 1. There is only 1 picture (what’s up with that?)

My dad, in glasses with the camera around his neck, is carrying me and my Grandma, in red pantsuit, is holding my older brothers hand. I’m going to assume my mom and younger brother didn’t go with us on the Liberty Belle and she took this as we were coming off. For obvious reasons, I have no memory of this trip

Next we will move on to 1977…

We went with my Grandparents and also my great Aunt and Uncle. They lived in Kissimmee and had AP’s to Disney. They moved there because they loved WDW so much. My Dad once told me that they would go a couple evenings a week just to walk around, people watch and take it in. They loved when family came to visit because they got to go with others. This is all of us (minus the picture taker, my Mom)

My mother made matching shirts for us on this trip…pretty snazzy huh!

On Dumbo, me and my Dad

My older brother and Grandpa

We caught the Christmas show

And the parade with some still familiar characters.

My memories of this trip are a little stronger and I love to see current holiday pictures from the World. I’m hopeful to talk Greg into a holiday trip in 2011

Finally, we move forward to 1980. Once again, only a few pictures document our visit. A ride on the skyway

And us checking out the stocks. This trip was with my other Grandparents, grandpa is in this picture

I remember this trip pretty clearly as it was my first time on a roller coaster! I talked my Grandpa into taking me on BTMRR.

I would have sworn I went to Disney 5 or 6 times as a kid but my parents only have pictures from these 3 trips. I KNOW we went at least one more time when I was in high school (‘86 I think) but there is no photo evidence to support that claim (there are 2 pictures of us playing shuffleboard with my grandparents and 1 from the everglades from that Christmas break) Judging from the other pictures from that time period, they wouldn’t have been good anyways because I was going through that “You are SO lame, don’t take my picture” phase! I do remember visiting Epcot and loving the WS. I also remember watching Captain EO, my first 3D movie.

Ahh, good times, good memories and I’m ready to begin making more in 18 days!!

 

[SoonerGirl]

Oh, I love all the old photos! Those are so awesome! Funny how the toy soldiers and the reindeer look exactly the same as they do now!