Hello Moparop!! I made it over to your PTR and love reading about all of your plans -- resort, ADR's and your kids are adorable! So sweet! As far as autograph ideas, a co-worker of mine went to Home Depot and got quite a few of the paint swatches from the Disney line (w/ the Mickey heads). She cut the heads out, punched a hole in them and put them on a small, colorful metal ring. We will probably do this also. I plan on putting the signed Mickey heads into the kids' scrapbooks.
Thanks for coming over! It's been so fun planning this trip! Normally we have 3-4 months to plan based on when we schedule so having this extra time is really working well for me! That is a cute idea with the Mickey heads! A word of wisdom, bring something hard to put the paint chip on for the characters to sign on. They aren't really equipped for thin paper as I found out the hard way! The last time we did a family trip I put the autographs into Doug's scrapbook. He LOVED it!
I love Top Gun!! In fact, the reason I love it so much is that my brother was obsessed with that movie growing up. He can still quote pretty much the whole thing. Last weekend while we were on the lake on the boat, he was saying "Talk to Me Goose" when we were trying to anchor on a sand bar.
Oh Leslie, I knew you'd understand!! There are so many lines from that movie that I work into random conversation... Yes, I have issues.
Let's see...
Autographs. I haven't done this but I have seen it on a few trips and I think it's a great idea. What they do is get one of those small photo albums. You know the 4x6 ones at
Walmart? (I have also seen bigger ones but since you have 3 kids, smaller and compact is probably better if you want to do one for each). ANYWAYS, what they do is have the character sign on the blank photo album page and when they get home they add the picture of the character. I think that is such a great idea. I'm toying with doing it myself this year. I think it makes a cute and easy souvenir. You have to make sure you are aware of which way the camera is going but since most of the time with characters you take pictures vertical, it shouldn't be a big problem.
This is a great idea! It's light which is huge when you are thinking x2 or 3 and is a whole lot easier than the individual scrapbooks I have done for them in the past! If you do it, I'd love to see your results!
My favorite park bag has been Vera Bradley. Let's see, I've use the mail bag, the saddle up bag and a messenger sling. A bag that I've had in the past that I didn't bring into the park because I just didn't need that much room was the cargo sling. I think that would be the perfect size for you. Usually you can find a good deal on ebay on Vera Bradley bags. I also love that the Vera's have fabric straps, much easier on my shoulders when the bag starts to get a bit heavy.
Years ago, I SWORE I'd never do Vera Bradley. Like everything else in life, statements like that always make me eat my words! I bought my first bag about a month ago. It's a Betsy bag and it works perfectly to hold the amount of stuff I need for quick running around. I love how light it is and it keeps me well organized. I had looked into the Cargo Sling before I got the Betsy and it seemed too big for everyday, but you are right - Perfect for Disney!
Pin Trading. Wow. I'm awfully chatty this morning.
If you are going to do pin trading I highly recommend getting pins off of ebay. They are much cheaper than in the parks, most of the time you can find pin lots for about $1 a pin. I've bought them from many different sellers and have never had a problem about getting "fakes" or anything like that. I don't keep my pins on a lanyard but I'm sure you can find those on ebay too if you want them.
Thanks for the scoop on ebay! About how many pins do you think they would need to start trading? My goal is to not buy pins once we are there unless the kids use their spending money.
I love the customs for kids. What if you do a few tshirts, I know they are not as fancy but I've gotten some really cute appliques from Etsy and at least they can wear the tshirts at home. Maybe you should just do one really cute custom for Aileen.
I was pondering t-shirts for the boys. I know I want Aileen to have a Minnie dress. I figure she can wear it for Halloween and at Disney. I don't know what I'd put on the boys' t-shirts that would go with that.
*Don't have kids but thought I would add my own thoughts
1. Autographs? Do you or your kids collect them? Where do you have them sign? A book? Premade? Make your own?
*My mom and dad would buy ours the first day we got there. Of course they are super fancy now with the inserts where you can put the pics and they wish they had those when we were little! We still have our books and look at them from time to time. My mom was never crafty so I don't think she would have attempted to make them on her own.
We've never bought the albums there before so I was kind of thinking of buying new ones. I keep wondering how much time the kids have/will look a the albums off the shelves.
2. Park bag? What's your favorite? I did a baggalini the last few times and to quote Liam "I didn't love it very much". I am looking for something else that can hold enough for a small army (or 5 people) one of whom is in diapers and can last for a day in the parks.
*I use a Vera Bradley (once again don't carry diapers so I don't know?) I know they have the actual backpack bags but I use the smaller one. If not, I'll use one of the little WDW drawstring bags but both are super easy to throw in the wash after a trip!
I was also looking at the backpack. Is it pretty comfy even with heavy stuff in there?
3. Pin trading? I am hoping to get the boys into pin trading on this trip as Liam especially has a really hard time walking up to adults and starting a conversation. I thought this would make Disney a great structured environment to practice language skills. How's that for a stretch?
*Never traded sorry
No worries!
4. Holidays at Disney: I know many of you have been before or are planning to go this year. What stands out in your mind as one thing that you loved or are looking forward to seeing? If you've never been and are not going this year, what would you like to see if you were going?
*MK: Castle lighting and parade + fireworks (
MVMCP)
Epcot: Seeing the different santas around WS. Germany is my fav!! CLP shows (although, I'm not sure if DD would be able to sit through it?) It would be nice to walk by and take a glance for future years!! And the FIREWORKS of course, it's Illuminations + every other fireworks that they could find and shoot off!!
DHS: Osbourne lights!
AK: The parade is cute, they use some of the same floats as the regular parade but change the music and add smelly effects! I wouldn't go out of the way to see if but if you are there it's nice to catch!
I really want to see the castle lighting, but we are not going to do the party. I know there's a way to see not at the party, but I haven't been able to figure out how. Do you know? I think Doug and Liam would love the Santas and I definitely want to work it in! Thanks for the heads up on the AK parade!
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Totally!
On our first trip it was a surprise for the kids and was technically Alex's birthday present. We'd bought him a Mickey book to use as a trip journal but quickly realized it was perfect as an autograph book which, pre-DIS, I hadn't known to bring.
Donald was slightly annoyed Mickey's face was on every page so he intentionally signed over it.
That is a nice sized book. I think I could handle that as well. Can you tell this is all about Mom's comfort?
We got our park bag by accident. Again on our first trip we'd not factored in bringing home souvies so we ran out of room in the suitcases we'd brought. A quick trip to the Pop gift shop and I found this baby that has come with us since on each trip.
It hangs easily on our stroller, zippers shut and holds a TON of stuff. It's not fancy but it works for me. Sorry the pic is a bit teeny but it's actually quite big.
That bag looks awesome. I could use one of those!
Not a stretch at all, pin trading and autographs are fantastic ways to practice. Go with LL's advice for the eBay lots.
We love pin trading!
Thanks for the ebay support! How many pins are the kids carrying in the park on a given day? Do they do lanyards?
All of the decorations everywhere are sure to choke me up over and over and MVMCP is something I am very much looking forward to.
That's on my next time we go down at Christmas plan!
(knock on wood) We've been super lucky and never had to worry about specialized shoes or inserts or anything. Sandals are all we've ever worn but not sure about Nov/Dec...?
We've always done
Crocs but the boys have been in strollers before this time!
What if you put cute Disney things on everyday wear that you could easily remove once home?
Hmm.. interesting idea! I'll have to think on a way to pull that off!
Glad it worked out! Oh, and I would definitely spend the $40 just like you are!
I LOVE the idea of the photo album with a signature on one side and a picture on the other. That is what I have wanted to do - but haven't found an album I like yet (though, I haven't looked much
); so I'll do one or the other for Henry this trip, then do the other next trip.
The Osborne Lights are a close second for me.
Do you know which ones are missing? I truly haven't looked too much into it...
!
DH absolutely wanted everyone back to school/work that morning. How many people do you have coming?
