Me and the ‘Rents! - A Sept 2016 PTR - TR Link up!

[Raeven]

Hellooo!!!

Just a quick update. I've been having so much fun reading through everyone's PTRs - especially those going in Sept. It's really starting to feel real and close, right??

I can also tell because I'm starting to have clothes anxiety. It's absolutely ridiculous. I KNOW this. I try to talk myself off the ledge but no. My brain refuses to listen. I guess I should be clearer; it's actually a packing anxiety but what do you pack the most of? Clothes. Everything else is straight forward. Sunscreen? Easy. Toothbrush? Easy. Sunglasses? Easy. PJs? Easy. Clothes? Ehhhhh...which ones do I pack?? What should I wear?? Which ones are going to make me look ridiculous?? What if it rains?? What if it's warm outside (it will be) and it's freezing while I'm sitting at dinner (it will be)??

And this is really nuts for me to feel like this because I'm not a huge clothes person and I don't generally worry about my appearance too much. But at my favorite place in the world with lots of pictures I want to look my best. And be comfortable. Which stresses me out.

I'm a crazy person.

So, I usually turn to my sister and she helps me pick out clothes and we take pictures so I can vet all my options. Thank goodness for sisters!!!

If I can gather most of my clothes together by a week or two before my trip, I should be fine. Or if I can find all Disney clothes, it'll be no sweat!

Anyway this was supposed to be a quick update!

The actual REASON I'm posting is that I made another ADR after reading through some TRs and PTRs:

Sci-Fi Drive in Theater!

I wanted to just check it out and maybe have an appetizer late lunch. (I truly am trying to save a little money with food but I keep making ADRS. Oh well!) Well...the only opening on our first HS day is at 3pm. So I booked it though I would like an earlier reservation. I also looked at the allergy menu and there isn't a lot for my GF/DF mom to choose from. Hopefully we'll be able to talk to a chef and get something good.

I've heard mixed reviews from here but I would like to give it a try for myself and I think my dad would get a kick out of it. Last year, at our state fair, there was something similar with seats and old B movies playing in a food booth. He thought it was great! Hopefully, he'll feel the same way about Sci-fi. This is also going to be a little surprise for them.

So far we have Sci-fi and the Yachtsman are surprises. Also, we're going to do Behind the Seeds which I discussed with them but I'm sure they've forgotten so that will be a surprise too!

It's all really coming together!!

59 Days to Go!

Sci Fi is delicious!

I know what you mean about clothes I started picking out my clothes months ago (and started buying tons of Disney clothes), and I have what I think I'm bringing in my packing cube already

This year I'm trying everything on again before I go because some things I thought looked good, looked really unflattering in pictures.

I just pack for the warm and bring a poncho and umbrella for the rain. It barely rained on our last trip, but we were never cold. It was so hot, the air conditioning only felt like relief.

 

[DexLabDeeDee]

Sci Fi is delicious!

I know what you mean about clothes I started picking out my clothes months ago (and started buying tons of Disney clothes), and I have what I think I'm bringing in my packing cube already

Haha. I have a Disney box with all my usual Disney stuff, plus souvenEARS (see what I did there? ), plus now a few pieces of clothing. But I am thinking about starting packing. But I have another vacation before we go to Disney so I should probably wait until after that.....

This year I'm trying everything on again before I go because some things I thought looked good, looked really unflattering in pictures.

I just pack for the warm and bring a poncho and umbrella for the rain. It barely rained on our last trip, but we were never cold. It was so hot, the air conditioning only felt like relief.

For me, sometimes the air conditioning feels like a relief. When I'm at a restaurant, I always feel very cold. Like I need a sweatshirt cold. I think it's because I get cold really easily and the buckets of sweat I shed from the Sept heat is drying and making me even colder ! Sorry. TMI???

 

[Raeven]

Haha. I have a Disney box with all my usual Disney stuff, plus souvenEARS (see what I did there? ), plus now a few pieces of clothing. But I am thinking about starting packing. But I have another vacation before we go to Disney so I should probably wait until after that.....



For me, sometimes the air conditioning feels like a relief. When I'm at a restaurant, I always feel very cold. Like I need a sweatshirt cold. I think it's because I get cold really easily and the buckets of sweat I shed from the Sept heat is drying and making me even colder ! Sorry. TMI???

I have a Disney box too! I started packing because it's getting a little full.

Haha not at all. I was actually surprised that I didn't need one the whole trip as Im always cold at home and wear blankets in the summer. Right now the ac at work is making me freeze! But I guess Disney was just too hot? We did sit on the sweatshirts when the ground was too hot during the parade so I guess they served a purpose.

 

[Squishley]

I've been having so much fun reading through everyone's PTRs - especially those going in Sept. It's really starting to feel real and close, right??

It really is! I love summer, but sometimes i find myself saying, I wish summer would hurry up so I could go to Disney lol.

Ehhhhh...which ones do I pack?? What should I wear?? Which ones are going to make me look ridiculous?? What if it rains?? What if it's warm outside (it will be) and it's freezing while I'm sitting at dinner (it will be)??

I'm always freezing in the AC. I love the heat outside, but as soon as we are inside, so cold. I always pack a sweater in my bag for Disney. Actually I keep a blanket (sunggie actually) at my desk at work.

But at my favorite place in the world with lots of pictures I want to look my best. And be comfortable. Which stresses me out.

Exactly! I start planning months in advance and then change outfits and clothes over and over again. You're going to have these pictures for a long time, so you obviously want to look your best!

So, I usually turn to my sister and she helps me pick out clothes and we take pictures so I can vet all my options. Thank goodness for sisters!!!

My sister and I do that too!! We send outfit options back and forth to each other. Taking pictures in the outfit before hand is a great idea. Last year i had some outfits I thought were perfect and well themed and then looked terrible in the pictures. Oh well!

 

[DexLabDeeDee]

Guess what???


It's my 1,000th post!!!!!



YYYYAAAYYY!!!!

I joined the DIS in Jan of 2008. It's taken me a long time to get to 1,000. I actually was here in the summer of 2006 reading up on Disney Cruise Line for my honeymoon that Nov. I didn't actually gather up my courage and start posting until 2008 when I was planning a trip for me and DH to WDW that Sept. I already had the Disney bug at that point (I got it in 2002) and I was so happy to find a place with people like me!

I really appreciate you all!!

Even you lurkers!
(I was a professional DIS lurker for two years!)


​

On to the good stuff...

Give Kids the World Village!

I have spoken with Antonio (super nice!) from GKTW Village and my mom and I will be working in the Ice Cream Palace making ice cream cones and banana splits. For breakfast!

Yes, breakfast!

GKTW is an awesome land where children eat ice cream for breakfast!

Even though it wasn't my first choice, I am really excited to be doing this. I would have gone bonkers as a kid if I was allowed to eat ice cream for breakfast (how many times can I say that??) so I'm looking forward to making this crazy dream come true for these kids and their siblings.

This will be our first full day of vacation. Quite an early morning but a great way to kick off our two weeks of fun!

I highly recommend that you check out www.givekidstheworld.org and consider a donation to this great cause in celebration of your own Disney trip (or just because)!

If you want to check out their charity credentials, you can find them here at the BBB giving site: http://www.give.org/charity-reviews...youth/give-kids-the-world-in-kissimmee-fl-990

57 Days to Go!

 

[cinderkelly]

Congrats on your 1,000 post!

The GKTW looks so amazing! After I read about that on your thread I told my DH about it. I think scooping ice cream for breakfast sounds fun.

 

[DexLabDeeDee]

Right now the ac at work is making me freeze! But I guess Disney was just too hot? We did sit on the sweatshirts when the ground was too hot during the parade so I guess they served a purpose.

I'm always freezing in the AC. I love the heat outside, but as soon as we are inside, so cold. I always pack a sweater in my bag for Disney. Actually I keep a blanket (sunggie actually) at my desk at work.

My work is crazy. It'll be either super hot or really cold. I often sit at my desk in a sweatshirt!

Here I am in my hoodie in front of a fire at AKL in Sept 2014! Haha.

Don't let the picture fool you, it was blazing hot. Just chilly inside Jambo House.

It really is! I love summer, but sometimes i find myself saying, I wish summer would hurry up so I could go to Disney lol.

It's a horrible conundrum!

My sister and I do that too!! We send outfit options back and forth to each other. Taking pictures in the outfit before hand is a great idea. Last year i had some outfits I thought were perfect and well themed and then looked terrible in the pictures. Oh well!

I have already started - and I already feel so much better!

Congrats on your 1,000 post!

The GKTW looks so amazing! After I read about that on your thread I told my DH about it. I think scooping ice cream for breakfast sounds fun.

Thank you!! I'm glad you went and checked it out!

 

[DexLabDeeDee]

Because of all the talk around packing and my anxiety, I went shopping this weekend!



I got everything you see here (except Stitch, he came from Kohls) at Target! And a few more things that aren't in the picture. They had a 2 for $10 sale on all Merona and Mossimo shirts/tanks so I loaded up on tanks. I like to layer two because they are so thin. It's cool for my arms and actually not too much for the FL heat, even with two on.

I'm also going to do some more Disney bounding:



The one on the left is for Tinkerbell. I am going to put my hair up in a bun closer to the top of my head and see if I can grab some glitter and pixie dust myself. The one on the right is for Ariel. Not sure what I'm going to do about accessories or what I'm going to wear on the bottom of that but I have a couple of months to figure it out.

I also bought a swimsuit at Target! At this time of year! I was really shocked, actually, at all that I found. I averaged about $10 an item, which is great!


(gotta keep those arms out so they look skinny Also, I think I'll start a new trend of socks with swimming suits! My mom and sister groan each time I step out of the dressing room because I never take off my socks! I just can't make myself touch the floor in the fitting rooms with my bare feet!)

I have five outfits now plus a swimming suit. Add that to my Stitch shirt and my Lion King shirt and I am pretty set! I also need to put together my Belle Disney Bounding with my book purse that my sister got me and figure out what I'm going to wear to Le Cellier and Yachtsman. We usually dress up for the California Grill (at least a little). It's the only signature restaurant I've been in. Do people do the same for Le Cellier or not so much because it's in a park?

We'll have a washer and dryer in our villa at AKL so I'm not going to bring two weeks worth of clothes. We'll do a quick load probably on Saturday morning and be ready for the next week.

Speaking of AKL, I just checked us in! It's hilarious to me that you can check in two months ahead of time. I told my mom that I had done it and she said, "Well, they're not expecting us now...are they?" Haha. No. But you can see where she might think that! "Hurry up and wait" should be Disney's official motto.

I just got an email about our flight times moving up a half hour both ways. Not a problem for us but even if it was a problem, we couldn't change it because we got the economy fare. An interesting point that I hadn't factored in when making the decisions. I knew that you couldn't just change your flight if you wanted to but I didn't know that if they changed it on you, you were just stuck with the changes. Again, we're fine, but it may make me pause in the future.

Just waiting for our Magic Bands, now. I also want to make CM appreciation cards.


54 Days to Go!

 

[Raeven]

Yay for Disney outfits! They sell a lot of mermaid patterned bottoms lately. I've seen skirts, shorts, and pants in various places online.

I'm so close to online check in too!

I'm pretty sure we can't change our fares either, and our flight was already delayed an extra half hour on the way home. (Not the one from Disney of course, the second one where we'll just be sitting in an airport).

 

[DexLabDeeDee]

Yay for Disney outfits! They sell a lot of mermaid patterned bottoms lately. I've seen skirts, shorts, and pants in various places online.

I'm so close to online check in too!

I'm pretty sure we can't change our fares either, and our flight was already delayed an extra half hour on the way home. (Not the one from Disney of course, the second one where we'll just be sitting in an airport).

Of course! Isn't that always the way it goes?

I feel like are half hour evens out. Even though we'll get there a half hour earlier, we're also leaving a half hour earlier. And for some reason, the earlier half hour leaving just seems soooo early! Too early to leave! Blech!

Yaaayy for "so early it makes no sense" online check-in!

(I also see what you did there with the Stitch smiley. Well, played. )

 

[Squishley]

Here I am in my hoodie in front of a fire at AKL in Sept 2014! Haha.

I get it! I have a photo like that in Disney (but it was in January, so it is sort of acceptable). I'm in jeans, long sleeves, a hoodie, a down vest and mittens lol.

It's a horrible conundrum!

LOL> I. Love. This! That about sums it up!

I have already started - and I already feel so much better!

Your disney bounding outfits look awesome! The Ariel top is sooo pretty! I hope you find "mermaid" bottoms lol. Since the top is a "sea" colour, you could always go with purple bottoms or red bottoms (ariel's bra or hair colour).
I love Target. I miss having it here. I think we had it for all of... two years maybe?? I bought a bunch of stuff for my previous trips there (shorts, tanks, dresses, a purse) you can't beat the prices!

Even you lurkers!
(I was a professional DIS lurker for two years!)

Hahaha that was me. I joined in 2014 and just started posting a few months ago lol

That is very sweet of you and your Mom to be volunteering!

 

[DexLabDeeDee]

Your disney bounding outfits look awesome! The Ariel top is sooo pretty! I hope you find "mermaid" bottoms lol. Since the top is a "sea" colour, you could always go with purple bottoms or red bottoms (ariel's bra or hair colour).

I love Target. I miss having it here. I think we had it for all of... two years maybe?? I bought a bunch of stuff for my previous trips there (shorts, tanks, dresses, a purse) you can't beat the prices!

I think I may want to go with red bottoms if I can find some that aren't super expensive. What I really should do is have the aqua top, purple shorts, and red shoes as a reverse Ariel. Haha. That sounds like a figure skating move or a diving move.

I know you don't have Target any more! That is so sad. It's crazy what happened to their Canada operations. I know someone who works for Target and it was just very poorly managed, unfortunately. Maybe they'll try again sometime.

 

[VACamm]

I am now following your PTR because 1. We too are going to WDW in September, 2. Because I also was diagnosed with a Gluten Sensitivity this year and will also be eating around WDW for the first time on a G.F. diet... and 3. Because Sirius Black is my FAVORITE HP character and just the simple fact that you named your kitty after him makes you amazing in my book!

I have enjoyed reading your PTR and I look forward to reading more

 

[DexLabDeeDee]

I've been making changes!!

Because apparently I have nothing else to do but obsess over all the little details! Which I said I wasn't going to do but oh well. It's not obsessing, it's just...tweaking...to...optimize our enjoyment....yeah....

I've been trying to find an earlier than 3pm Sci-Fi time. I get either 12:30pm or 1:40pm which won't work with our FP+s. I've been trying to get TSMM for earlier than 1:10pm but no go. It's weird. A lot of afternoon times but nothing for the morning.

I think it'd be too much of a squeeze to do a 1:10pm FP+ for TSMM and then rush over to Sci-Fi for our 1:40pm ADR. Theoretically, it should be a problem. FP+ SHOULD get us in and out in until 30min but you just never know. I'd feel way more comfortable with a 2pm time.

I moved one of our FP+s for Epcot to a later time to give us a little more room to come a little later. I was thinking that we'd be in the park for lunch to do afternoon evening but apparently, my parents are thinking that 2pm or later would be better. I'm thinking that they'll want to get to the park sooner in the end but just in case, I moved our FP+s to a little later. It was no problem. It also isn't our FEA day, either, which makes it easier. I heard that Living with the Land has now moved to Tier 2 which means that we could switch out our Character Spot FP+ to Living with the Land if we want. Something to think about.

The big change that I made was to completely drop one of our "regular" AK FP+ days and use it for the "bonus" nighttime visit we'll be doing on our first full day. That means that FP+s for both of our "regular" AK days the second week will need to be made once we've added the extra days on Sunday for my parents and the AP for me.

I really went back and forth on this. I went to Touringplans.com and looked at the FP+ availability for that day, the next few days, my days, etc. It looks like quite a lot is open so we should be fine. In fact, the same argument could be used to NOT switch - either way it should be fine. I decided that the nighttime stuff was super important to me. More important than the "regular" days so I got a 7pm KS and an 8pm EE for that Sunday.

SUPER excited!!!!!!!!! Everyone says that we probably won't need the FP+ and I hope we don't; I hope we get to ride it again and again and again in the dark. But just in case, I have it secured for sure! The interesting think I found is that there aren't any FP+s available for any day past 8pm. After that, until 11pm, it's stand-by only. I'm hoping that a lot of people are going to be at the Jungle Book show (which I've heard is pretty lame - has anyone seen it??) and I can just ride EE until I puke! (I hope not.)

I am so so so so so glad that it is working out for us to make AK at night. It's my favorite park and I am beyond thrilled to see it in the dark. BEYOND thrilled.

Have I mentioned that I'm thrilled??

Well, I am.

THRILLED!!!

This:

and

AK at night is worth the trip alone. Not that I'm going to give back the two weeks or anything. Are you crazy?

I think Rivers of Light is a no-go so I'm cancelling and moving some Boma ADRs around. I originally thought that if we did RoL, we might want to push our Boma ADR to the next evening after Harry Potter. But since it's highly unlikely, we'll just stick to our AK AM trip and not come back to AK for the nighttime stuff since it isn't happening.


That's basically it. For those of you having trouble keeping track and are more visually oriented, here is our new schedule:





A little light the second week but that's how we want it. All I just have to do is suppress the urge to fill it up! And I will do that. For sure. Must suppress!

45 Days to Go!!

 

[DexLabDeeDee]

I am now following your PTR because 1. We too are going to WDW in September, 2. Because I also was diagnosed with a Gluten Sensitivity this year and will also be eating around WDW for the first time on a G.F. diet... and 3. Because Sirius Black is my FAVORITE HP character and just the simple fact that you named your kitty after him makes you amazing in my book!

I have enjoyed reading your PTR and I look forward to reading more

Hello!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for joining me!! September WDW warriors unite!

I'm sorry to hear about your gluten sensitivity. I hope that you're feeling better on a GF diet. There is a bit of a difference for me but not too much. I'm mainly just hoping to avoid future thyroid problems. I'm kind of nervous about exactly how this all works. Who do you talk to, etc. My GF stuff probably won't be too much of a problem (yay!) but my mom's gluten, dairy, and tapioca will be an issue. Especially since most gluten bread substitutes have tapioca in them. I had no idea so much stuff had tapioca in it!

My DH and I love Sirius Black too! Both kinds - character and cat. Here are pics of my Sirius. He also looks like Toothless. And a velociraptor when he swishes his tail in the air before pouncing. He's my weirdo!



He looks like two different kitties, here, but it's the same one and he's the same age in both!

 

[Raeven]

I have to resist the urge to add extras to everything & pack everyday full too I said we'd take it easier this time, but I think I lied. In my defense we have less days then last time we can take it easy (well easier) in December because there's a few more days.

Now though we might have to decide between Fantasmic & the Star Wars fireworks and I'm not sure which to pick. I guess Star Wars because it's newer, but I actually still have to see those movies.

Yay for AK at night! I think ROL isn't happening anytime soon too which is disappointing to me, but oh well more time for night activities. On our AK day it's open till 830, but the last FP for the safari was 6-7. I think that's perfect though. I didn't check night EE I was just hoping there's no line. I chickened out last time so I have to get past our day FP before riding it at night

 

[DexLabDeeDee]

I have to resist the urge to add extras to everything & pack everyday full too I said we'd take it easier this time, but I think I lied. In my defense we have less days then last time we can take it easy (well easier) in December because there's a few more days.

That is so awesome that you are getting two trips so close together and you don't HAVE to squeeze it all in. Though I totally understand the urge!!

Now though we might have to decide between Fantasmic & the Star Wars fireworks and I'm not sure which to pick. I guess Star Wars because it's newer, but I actually still have to see those movies.

Ack!! Raeven!! What?? At least watch the first one. And by first one I mean A New Hope. It might make it easier to decide between F! and Star Wars. We're going the Star Wars route because my dad and I are major fans. (Except I didn't like the most recent movie . DH didn't either. We were kind of upset where they took the story. And how they threw out all the storylines from the radio drama and the many many books that have been written after the first three movies. Not that I have an opinion...) Also, I don't think my dad likes F! too much.

Yay for AK at night! I think ROL isn't happening anytime soon too which is disappointing to me, but oh well more time for night activities. On our AK day it's open till 830, but the last FP for the safari was 6-7. I think that's perfect though. I didn't check night EE I was just hoping there's no line. I chickened out last time so I have to get past our day FP before riding it at night

Good luck! If you've never ridden EE, it's not as bad as it seems. The worst of it is that drop that you see in the front and it is not a really bad drop. It curves pretty soon from the drop so it's a short drop. If you can do ToT, you can do EE!

 

[Sarahh1027]

I've been making changes!!

Because apparently I have nothing else to do but obsess over all the little details! Which I said I wasn't going to do but oh well. It's not obsessing, it's just...tweaking...to...optimize our enjoyment....yeah....

Hahahaha story of my life!

My DH and I love Sirius Black too! Both kinds - character and cat. Here are pics of my Sirius.

Ahh I love him!!!! (Your kitty) ((But I love the character too))

 

[VACamm]

Hello!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for joining me!! September WDW warriors unite!

I'm sorry to hear about your gluten sensitivity. I hope that you're feeling better on a GF diet. There is a bit of a difference for me but not too much. I'm mainly just hoping to avoid future thyroid problems. I'm kind of nervous about exactly how this all works. Who do you talk to, etc. My GF stuff probably won't be too much of a problem (yay!) but my mom's gluten, dairy, and tapioca will be an issue. Especially since most gluten bread substitutes have tapioca in them. I had no idea so much stuff had tapioca in it!

My DH and I love Sirius Black too! Both kinds - character and cat. Here are pics of my Sirius. He also looks like Toothless. And a velociraptor when he swishes his tail in the air before pouncing. He's my weirdo!

View attachment 182971 View attachment 182974

He looks like two different kitties, here, but it's the same one and he's the same age in both!

Your Sirius Black is super cute. I have 2 fluffy longhaired cats named MoneyPenny (James Bond) and Obi-Wan (Obi for short).

So about the GF diet at WDW... I actually read another one of your PTR followers (heeeey RAEVEN !!!) Disney Dining Reviews because her boyfriend is also Gluten Free. She showed a lot of photos and provided some really great feedback which made me feel so much better about this upcoming trip. I think that this is the link to her review: September 2015-Disney Food Reviews

 

[Raeven]

That is so awesome that you are getting two trips so close together and you don't HAVE to squeeze it all in. Though I totally understand the urge!!

I think I'd need a month to fit everything I want to do in Plus we spend half our time in Universal most trips too even this shorter one has a few Universal days so I still try to cram too many activities in a day.

Ack!! Raeven!! What?? At least watch the first one. And by first one I mean A New Hope. It might make it easier to decide between F! and Star Wars. We're going the Star Wars route because my dad and I are major fans. (Except I didn't like the most recent movie . DH didn't either. We were kind of upset where they took the story. And how they threw out all the storylines from the radio drama and the many many books that have been written after the first three movies. Not that I have an opinion...) Also, I don't think my dad likes F! too much.

I know I know! I've been meaning to watch them. I was never interested when I was younger. I asked my boyfriend last night (who I think has seen them all except the new one) and we agreed on Star Wars fireworks because we've seen Fantasmic and will see it again later this year. I'm not sure how long these fireworks will last either. But I will try to watch some of the movies before this trip it's on my enormous list of movies to watch before the trip.

Good luck! If you've never ridden EE, it's not as bad as it seems. The worst of it is that drop that you see in the front and it is not a really bad drop. It curves pretty soon from the drop so it's a short drop. If you can do ToT, you can do EE!

I'm more scared of heights than the drops in it, but I still plan to try it next time. Tot is a bad example! I went on it, but I had a panic attack and cried the whole time. I don't see myself riding that again, but I like it up until the elevator part