tlh0726
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Oct 26, 2008
- Messages
- 2,451
After months of anticipation and preparation, departure day has finally (well almost) arrived. Our plan is to leave home (Littlestown, PA) in the morning around 8:30am, thus hopefully missing the majority of traffic in Baltimore and DC. We (let me mention that I cannot stand DHs driving) will drive as far as we (I cannot stand DHs driving) can with both of us taking turns (did I mention, I cannot stand DHs driving) until dark at which time we (in case you did not catch it before, I cannot stand DHs driving) will pull into a Super Walmart (not trying to start a debate) spend the night (if the kids and I havent bailed out by then) and drive (should I be taking bets on who is driving) the remainder the next morning.
We have had this trip to the Fort (our first) planned since we returned home last March. That trip (Pop Century) was DH and the youngest kids first time to WDW. DH (who teased me tremendously before the trip about how much time I spend on the DIS) finally got it while we were there and thanked me for all the time I took researching and planning. He has since then commented to several people that it was the only vacation that he has ever took that he did not think about anything at home.
So here we go
Our cast of characters Me Tina 42, stay at home mom of 3(or depending on the day 4). DH Jay 45, self employed main employment is installing stainless piping in 3 food plants for a major retailer of salad dressing and bbq sauce. Part time- creates and installs decorative iron handrail, staircases, and fencing for several local contractors, architects, and restaurants. DD Kaelonnah 5, who tells everyone that she is finally going back to her home. DS- Cashton 4, who is going to confess to Tinkerbelle that he loves her despite how many times his sister tells him it is gross!! (I hope he never sees Robos picture of the flying Tinkerbelle)
Transportation 2009 Sportscoach Cross Country 385DS towing a 2008 Chrysler Town and Country using a Demco Kar Kaddy SS.
Countdown- We debated about telling the kids beforehand or making the trip a total surprise. At 84 days out, we decided to let them in on it and made the announcement by hanging Mickey head paint chips on the refrigerator. Our main reasoning was that the kids have only spent one night in the motorhome (long story)since its purchase in Jan 09 and we did not want them thinking that every trip was going to end with them being at Disney.
Prior to the reveal, I began some behind the scenes/undercover preparations and continued with them once everyone was on board.
Autograph Book for the kids to share. Designs by Donatalie from the Creative design board. Book has 118 character pages and 15 blanks. Once home, the autographs and pictures of the kids and characters are put into a two per page photo album. Autograph on top and group picture on the bottom.
Epcot Passports Designs by Donatalie. I had the pages spiral bound at Staples. I already made a note not to leave as much blank space at the top for the binding next time. I know the Epcot kid stations are sponsored by Sharpie, but sharpies and kids are not a good mix.
Pressed pennies - My first designs using Photoshop Elements. The tall M&M mini tube holds enough pennies and quarters for 31 pressed pennies. The smaller one is a Mentos gum container to hold the smashed pennies. Wording at top is their name(s) and the wording at the bottom is Pressed Penny Money and Pressed Pennies. DD just had to have Mickey and Minnie getting married. Told DH to be prepared to pay some major $$, I see a Disney wedding in her future!
Laundry Money - Came up with the theme idea while hanging up laundry outside one morning (Jays sister said it is because I normally live with one of the dwarfs). The tube holds $20.50 in quarters.
T-shirts - Started off planning to do 6 days worth of shirts, became addicted and ended up with 9 days worth (did not do a travel day to or from). Only one shirt has the year, so my plan is to let the kids keep that one to wear once home, the rest will be washed and put away to use for our next trip. I will then only have to make one days worth of shirts with the year to replace these for our next trip.
The shirts were purchased from Jiffyshirts.com Gildan brand 6.1 oz, 100% cotton
The transfers were purchased from Amymickey.com
Donatalies - I added a different border and the wording
Milliepies - I added the borders and wording to the Mickey head designs. For the Tink design, I added the darker background and wording.
Kellybells I added the colored background, border and wording
Rustmanfan (marion)- I cropped the border narrower.
Tie dye Mickey head - My first attempt at this. I used a Jacquard brand tie dye kit for the shirts and Tulip brand black dye for the Mickey heads. The pics are before they were washed. The head came out looking a little faded after washing. When I do these again, I will definitely be ordering Jacquard brand black off the internet to see if there is a difference in the outcome of the Mickey head. Pixiedust32 was great in answering my questions.
Umbrella- We have a Schwinn PR150 bike stroller for the kids to ride in for both WDW and our local amusement park, Hersheypark. Since the stroller did not give a lot of shade, our plan was for DH to make some modifications to the canopy structure and then I was going to make a new fabric canopy. Plans changed when a tenant dumped an ashtray before leaving for work one morning. Needless to say, DH has been spending every moment since rebuilding the house so that the tenant and his family can move back in.
So until our plans can be completed this is what the kids will be using for shade.
DISboard member sign- Here is the 3rd attempt at the sign that we will be displaying in the front windshield of our motorhome. When I put the smaller Mickey heads next to the first sign, the ears where they attached to the head looked way out of proportion, just round circles that were popped on. (sorta like fake b00bs). The second sign I put the The to far to the left and had this big blank space between that and Darlichs. I think I finally got it right with this one. We will be hanging the smaller Mickey heads randomly around the windshield. Until we complete a few more trips, there will be a lot of blank Mickey heads in the windshield.
Lime green Mickey heads - Design by BayouMickey that I altered a bit. I made up a few of these to hang from our stroller, fanny pack, lanyards, etc. I purchased the key chain buttons from AC Moore for $1 each.
Buttons for Kids I made these up for the kids to wear in the parks. The reverse side of the button has their name (first and last), both DH and my names, and both of our cell numbers. If the kids get separated from us, they just need to lift up the bottom of the button when they ask for help. I purchased the buttons at AC Moore for $1 each.
Thank you cards- Donatalies design with a few modifications by me. There were so many cast members during our last trip that we felt went above and beyond. So this time we wanted to be able to express our thanks to them.
Snack boxes - When on vacation, our family seems to be more snackers than eaters. We use pencil boxes to keep all the goodies from getting squished. Each kid has their own that they decorated with stickers, and DH and I share.
Various things I picked up for the kids-
Glow bracelets - from Michaels craft store that we will be attaching together to make a tri-colored necklace. There are 15 bracelets in a tube for $1. I picked up 10 tubes, so we can pass along some magic.
Wind whirlies - (no clue on the correct name) from Michaels $1 each Princesses for DD, Cars for DS
Lanyards Purchased from Michaels for $1 each. Tinkerbelle and fairies for DD, Buzz and Woody for DS
Bubbles - from Dollar Tree $1 each. Thought it would help pass the time while waiting for the parades (I will be checking to make sure no one around us cares that they do it) Princesses for DD, Buzz for DS
Light up globe spinners - from Walmart $3 each. Only colors they had, pink and green camo.
We have had this trip to the Fort (our first) planned since we returned home last March. That trip (Pop Century) was DH and the youngest kids first time to WDW. DH (who teased me tremendously before the trip about how much time I spend on the DIS) finally got it while we were there and thanked me for all the time I took researching and planning. He has since then commented to several people that it was the only vacation that he has ever took that he did not think about anything at home.
So here we go
Our cast of characters Me Tina 42, stay at home mom of 3(or depending on the day 4). DH Jay 45, self employed main employment is installing stainless piping in 3 food plants for a major retailer of salad dressing and bbq sauce. Part time- creates and installs decorative iron handrail, staircases, and fencing for several local contractors, architects, and restaurants. DD Kaelonnah 5, who tells everyone that she is finally going back to her home. DS- Cashton 4, who is going to confess to Tinkerbelle that he loves her despite how many times his sister tells him it is gross!! (I hope he never sees Robos picture of the flying Tinkerbelle)
Transportation 2009 Sportscoach Cross Country 385DS towing a 2008 Chrysler Town and Country using a Demco Kar Kaddy SS.
Countdown- We debated about telling the kids beforehand or making the trip a total surprise. At 84 days out, we decided to let them in on it and made the announcement by hanging Mickey head paint chips on the refrigerator. Our main reasoning was that the kids have only spent one night in the motorhome (long story)since its purchase in Jan 09 and we did not want them thinking that every trip was going to end with them being at Disney.
Prior to the reveal, I began some behind the scenes/undercover preparations and continued with them once everyone was on board.
Autograph Book for the kids to share. Designs by Donatalie from the Creative design board. Book has 118 character pages and 15 blanks. Once home, the autographs and pictures of the kids and characters are put into a two per page photo album. Autograph on top and group picture on the bottom.
Epcot Passports Designs by Donatalie. I had the pages spiral bound at Staples. I already made a note not to leave as much blank space at the top for the binding next time. I know the Epcot kid stations are sponsored by Sharpie, but sharpies and kids are not a good mix.
Pressed pennies - My first designs using Photoshop Elements. The tall M&M mini tube holds enough pennies and quarters for 31 pressed pennies. The smaller one is a Mentos gum container to hold the smashed pennies. Wording at top is their name(s) and the wording at the bottom is Pressed Penny Money and Pressed Pennies. DD just had to have Mickey and Minnie getting married. Told DH to be prepared to pay some major $$, I see a Disney wedding in her future!
Laundry Money - Came up with the theme idea while hanging up laundry outside one morning (Jays sister said it is because I normally live with one of the dwarfs). The tube holds $20.50 in quarters.
T-shirts - Started off planning to do 6 days worth of shirts, became addicted and ended up with 9 days worth (did not do a travel day to or from). Only one shirt has the year, so my plan is to let the kids keep that one to wear once home, the rest will be washed and put away to use for our next trip. I will then only have to make one days worth of shirts with the year to replace these for our next trip.
The shirts were purchased from Jiffyshirts.com Gildan brand 6.1 oz, 100% cotton
The transfers were purchased from Amymickey.com
Donatalies - I added a different border and the wording
Milliepies - I added the borders and wording to the Mickey head designs. For the Tink design, I added the darker background and wording.
Kellybells I added the colored background, border and wording
Rustmanfan (marion)- I cropped the border narrower.
Tie dye Mickey head - My first attempt at this. I used a Jacquard brand tie dye kit for the shirts and Tulip brand black dye for the Mickey heads. The pics are before they were washed. The head came out looking a little faded after washing. When I do these again, I will definitely be ordering Jacquard brand black off the internet to see if there is a difference in the outcome of the Mickey head. Pixiedust32 was great in answering my questions.
Umbrella- We have a Schwinn PR150 bike stroller for the kids to ride in for both WDW and our local amusement park, Hersheypark. Since the stroller did not give a lot of shade, our plan was for DH to make some modifications to the canopy structure and then I was going to make a new fabric canopy. Plans changed when a tenant dumped an ashtray before leaving for work one morning. Needless to say, DH has been spending every moment since rebuilding the house so that the tenant and his family can move back in.
So until our plans can be completed this is what the kids will be using for shade.
DISboard member sign- Here is the 3rd attempt at the sign that we will be displaying in the front windshield of our motorhome. When I put the smaller Mickey heads next to the first sign, the ears where they attached to the head looked way out of proportion, just round circles that were popped on. (sorta like fake b00bs). The second sign I put the The to far to the left and had this big blank space between that and Darlichs. I think I finally got it right with this one. We will be hanging the smaller Mickey heads randomly around the windshield. Until we complete a few more trips, there will be a lot of blank Mickey heads in the windshield.
Lime green Mickey heads - Design by BayouMickey that I altered a bit. I made up a few of these to hang from our stroller, fanny pack, lanyards, etc. I purchased the key chain buttons from AC Moore for $1 each.
Buttons for Kids I made these up for the kids to wear in the parks. The reverse side of the button has their name (first and last), both DH and my names, and both of our cell numbers. If the kids get separated from us, they just need to lift up the bottom of the button when they ask for help. I purchased the buttons at AC Moore for $1 each.
Thank you cards- Donatalies design with a few modifications by me. There were so many cast members during our last trip that we felt went above and beyond. So this time we wanted to be able to express our thanks to them.
Snack boxes - When on vacation, our family seems to be more snackers than eaters. We use pencil boxes to keep all the goodies from getting squished. Each kid has their own that they decorated with stickers, and DH and I share.
Various things I picked up for the kids-
Glow bracelets - from Michaels craft store that we will be attaching together to make a tri-colored necklace. There are 15 bracelets in a tube for $1. I picked up 10 tubes, so we can pass along some magic.
Wind whirlies - (no clue on the correct name) from Michaels $1 each Princesses for DD, Cars for DS
Lanyards Purchased from Michaels for $1 each. Tinkerbelle and fairies for DD, Buzz and Woody for DS
Bubbles - from Dollar Tree $1 each. Thought it would help pass the time while waiting for the parades (I will be checking to make sure no one around us cares that they do it) Princesses for DD, Buzz for DS
Light up globe spinners - from Walmart $3 each. Only colors they had, pink and green camo.
Very cool.
