Our September 2011 Pre-Trip Adventure!! (Update 09/29/2011 - Link to TR!)

[TanzUnited99]

Hi everyone! Hope you are all having a great Easter weekend!! Happy Easter!!

So, I did promise a new update today and have been thinking about the best way to inform you of my planning folder. I thought it would be for the best to post pics of the empty folder and then once I have got it in some order to post pics of the important items in it (am hoping I will have something that is worth sharing, lol!!) Let me know what you think of this. If you think there is a better way then let me know.

The planning folder - I did debate a 3-ring binder but loved the design and simplicity of this one, which is a 2-ring binder! If needs be and it starts overflowing then I will change it at a later date. So, what do you think?

On a seperate note I also got a surprise this weekend! I may have mentioned this but Zaheer is the photographer out of the two of us - I don't have the first idea when it comes to cameras etc. They all look the same to me

Anyway, he has bought a camera for our trip! We will be using it beforehand to get used to it - I have had a go and it seems pretty straight forward to use!

According to the website it is a Fuji S1730 12MP Compact Digital Camera. Like I said, doesn't mean anything to me! Here is a pic of it.

We like it and it works, so that's good enough for me! I've also been reading about the Photopass CD. Am not sure if we will be ordering one but have enough time to decide. I think it'll be a good idea and a neat way to get photos of the both of us. What are your thoughts on this?

Am watching Mary Poppins at the minute - it is on tv and am really enjoying it. Maybe, that will be the next movie of the week!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend

 

[therussells08]

Happy Easter! I love your planning folder! Very cute!

That is so cool that you got a new camera! I have been hunting for a camera that I can afford before our trip because mine is pretty junky. Fingers crossed!

 

[IheartDDuck]

Very nice binder! It's nice to be organized on trips.

Great camera too. I admit, I don't know a lot about cameras either. I just leave that to my brothers.

 

[mrssmith06]

Love the binder and the camera, and how funny... we were just watching Mary Poppins last night!!!

 

[Queenofallthings]

I think your planning folder is perfect! I think you`ll find it`s exactly what you need.

Great choice on the camera! I am anything but an expert but I did have a Fuji before my Canon and I quite liked it!

 

[disneybarbie]

Hi!

Looks like a good camera - DF has a DSLR camera and it takes excellent photos

I really like getting the Photopass cd - you can pre-order it for just $99 (rather than $149), postage to the UK is about $10.

Use this link..

http://www.disneyphotopass.com/previsitoffer.aspx

It's nice to have photos of the two of you together, often in fun poses!



Emma x

 

[jenneth79]

Adorable binder, and what a nice camera! You should get some excellent photos with that on your trip!

I'm also strongly leaning towards the Photopass CD, just to ensure there will be a few photos of my DH and I together.....

 

[PixieMama]

Nice camera!


I, personally, have not purchased any Photopass pictures or CD. But I would say if you're going to get one, definitely pre-order.

My brother-in-law and sister-in-law took their kids to WDW for Spring Break last month... did the Photopass since there were a few times they were separated (each one taking a kid to see different characters) and only had one camera. And a few times where they were able to get a pic of the whole family.

After they got home and looked through all the photos, my SIL chose about 27 that she liked and wanted to have. If they bought just the photos she picked out, it would have been over $400! So they ended up just buying the whole CD for $149. I didn't have the heart to tell my BIL that he could have pre-ordered it for just $99.[/SIZE]

 

[TanzUnited99]

Happy Easter! I love your planning folder! Very cute!

That is so cool that you got a new camera! I have been hunting for a camera that I can afford before our trip because mine is pretty junky. Fingers crossed!

Thank you - hope you had a great Easter!! That's what made me purchase it!

I wasn't planning on buying a camera - was just going to borrow one from my brother. It was nice to be surprised with the purchase! I will keep my fingers crossed that you manage to find a camera within your budget. Your shots are beautiful - I hope ours turn out just as well!

Very nice binder! It's nice to be organized on trips.

Great camera too. I admit, I don't know a lot about cameras either. I just leave that to my brothers.

Thank you! I am hoping to be organised. I think I am at that stage at the minute where I am worrying that I will not have everything ready for our trip!

Am glad to hear I am not the only one that is clueless when it comes to cameras. We just know more when it comes to other things such as park itineraries/rides!

Love the binder and the camera, and how funny... we were just watching Mary Poppins last night!!!

Thank you! That is soo funny that we both watched the same movie on the same day!! I want to quote something from the movie but think I will leave it until later on in the week

I think your planning folder is perfect! I think you`ll find it`s exactly what you need.

Great choice on the camera! I am anything but an expert but I did have a Fuji before my Canon and I quite liked it!

Thank you Queen! That is soo nice to hear - I hope it is exactly what we'll need

Hey you are more of an expert then me so again thank you for the compliment! I hope we like our Fuji as much as you liked yours. Are your previous shots on your PTR using the Fuji/Canon camera? They came out great!

 

[TanzUnited99]

Hi!

Looks like a good camera - DF has a DSLR camera and it takes excellent photos

I really like getting the Photopass cd - you can pre-order it for just $99 (rather than $149), postage to the UK is about $10.

Use this link..

http://www.disneyphotopass.com/previsitoffer.aspx

It's nice to have photos of the two of you together, often in fun poses!



Emma x

Hi Emma! Thanks - am glad to hear that. I hope we are able to take some excellent shot with our new camera. In that case I am also looking forward to seeing all the excellent photos from your trip

Thanks for posting the PP link. Have had a quick look at it. If we decide to purchase a CD will definitely be pre-ordering one

I have seen quite a few fun Photopass pics on these boards so will be hoping to get some fun poses with maybe a Simba or Tink!

Adorable binder, and what a nice camera! You should get some excellent photos with that on your trip!

I'm also strongly leaning towards the Photopass CD, just to ensure there will be a few photos of my DH and I together.....

Thank you! I sure hope we get some excellent photos to share after our trip!

I know..am the same. Want to buy the CD to ensure that we have some fun and exciting photos of the two of us rather then just standard poses of us doing nothing!

Nice camera!


I, personally, have not purchased any Photopass pictures or CD. But I would say if you're going to get one, definitely pre-order.

My brother-in-law and sister-in-law took their kids to WDW for Spring Break last month... did the Photopass since there were a few times they were separated (each one taking a kid to see different characters) and only had one camera. And a few times where they were able to get a pic of the whole family.

After they got home and looked through all the photos, my SIL chose about 27 that she liked and wanted to have. If they bought just the photos she picked out, it would have been over $400! So they ended up just buying the whole CD for $149. I didn't have the heart to tell my BIL that he could have pre-ordered it for just $99.[/SIZE]

Thank you!

If we do decide to get a CD will def be pre-ordering one as it makes sense to save the $50. Will you be purchasing one for your Sept trip or are you going to use your own cameras?

I never thought about the splitting up part. As there will be just the two of us am guessing there are less chances of us seperating but there may be certain occasions where the camera is with Zaheer and I want my picture taken or vice versa. Thanks for sharing the story of your brother in law and sister in law.

Wow that is scary - $400 for 27 photos!! I would definitely take the $99 over that price anyday!!

 

[SoonerGirl]

Very cute folder, I love it!

Congrats on the new camera! I am torn when it comes to the photopass CD. I've ordered it in the past and been very happy with the results, BUT the last two trips I've been pretty disappointed in the quality of the photos. That being said, I do really like the cute borders you can put on the PP pics, and the magic shots are really fun!

Just remember if you decide not to order the CD that you can always ask the PP photographers to take a picture of you using your camera as well

 

[Nermel9]

I love the binder! And the new camera looks great, although I don't really know much about cameras!

I loved having the Photopass CD for November...it's nice paying for it before and knowing you get each picture you take with the PP photographers on the CD. It's much better than paying for individual prints, which can add up!

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

Hi everyone! Hope you are all having a great Easter weekend!! Happy Easter!!
The planning folder - I did debate a 3-ring binder but loved the design and simplicity of this one, which is a 2-ring binder! If needs be and it starts overflowing then I will change it at a later date. So, what do you think?

Enjoy the rest of your weekend

Love your binder!!

I want to second what Michelle said. The photopass photographer will take your picture for the photopass and also with your camera. Same with the character handlers. I haven't bought a photopass. (I did buy one picture for $15, though.) I think the down side to the photopass is that you probably will feel like you need to seek out the photographers to get your money's worth.

 

[PixieMama]

If we do decide to get a CD will def be pre-ordering one as it makes sense to save the $50. Will you be purchasing one for your Sept trip or are you going to use your own cameras?

Hmmmm... I'm not sure! That's something I'll have to bring up and ask the others, as I hadn't really thought about it before. I will be bringing my camera and I'm sure the others will, too... but it would be nice to have the Photopass pics, as well.

 

[mrssmith06]

I'm in a debate with myself over the Photopass CD too, not sure if I want it or not... Either way I will be bringing my own camera though. And if I do decide to do the CD then I want to pre-order it for sure! So I need to make up my mind soon!!

 

[Chaitali]

I was just visiting my cousin who has been to Disney World several times with her kids. She thought the photopass was definitely worth it so I went ahead and did the pre-order. It says that if you decide after the trip you don't want the CD, the money is fully refundable. I figure I'll go ahead and get it now, and if we don't have enough photos that we like I'll just get the money refunded. Of course, I'll take our camera too They charge so much for individual photos that even if you just want 6 or 7, it's worth it to get the whole CD

 

[TanzUnited99]

Very cute folder, I love it!

Congrats on the new camera! I am torn when it comes to the photopass CD. I've ordered it in the past and been very happy with the results, BUT the last two trips I've been pretty disappointed in the quality of the photos. That being said, I do really like the cute borders you can put on the PP pics, and the magic shots are really fun!

Just remember if you decide not to order the CD that you can always ask the PP photographers to take a picture of you using your camera as well

Thank you!!

I have read mixed reviews on the photography boards so thank you for sharing your experiences. That's a bit sad that the quality of the photos have gone downhill during the last couple of years. I have also heard that the photographers are hard to find at times. The magic shots are what will sway me to purchase the CD if we do decide to do that.

That's great - will def remember to do that! I haven't discussed the CD idea with Zaheer yet. I feel a bit bad mentioning it after he has just purchased a camera for our trip. I'm not sure how he will take it but may drop it in conversation and see what happens!

I love the binder! And the new camera looks great, although I don't really know much about cameras!

I loved having the Photopass CD for November...it's nice paying for it before and knowing you get each picture you take with the PP photographers on the CD. It's much better than paying for individual prints, which can add up!

Thank you! Don't worry - I don't know much about cameras either. When Zaheer brought it he was like it can do this and this (explaining all the features) and I was like that is a great camera (but in my mind thinking I don't have a clue, lol!!)

Thanks for sharing your experience with the PP CD. I have heard about the price of the individual prints which sounds scary! I'm not sure what we're going to do at the minute - will let you know once we have made a decision

Love your binder!!

I want to second what Michelle said. The photopass photographer will take your picture for the photopass and also with your camera. Same with the character handlers. I haven't bought a photopass. (I did buy one picture for $15, though.) I think the down side to the photopass is that you probably will feel like you need to seek out the photographers to get your money's worth.

Thank you!! I was hoping to buy a bigger binder but just fell in love with this one!

Thank you for the advice. I will def be handing our camera to the photographers so they can take our shots using them. I was reading about the need to seek out the photoraphers on these boards and don't want to spend our days in the park just going around searching for photographers! I want to enjoy spending the time in the parks at our leisure. I may just leave the CD and see if there are any good shots on our return. However, I do change my mind about things quite easily so you never know

Just last night I was thinking about renting DVC points for a couple of days towards the end of our trip but then decided that it would be too much of a hassle to change things!!

 

[TanzUnited99]

Hmmmm... I'm not sure! That's something I'll have to bring up and ask the others, as I hadn't really thought about it before. I will be bringing my camera and I'm sure the others will, too... but it would be nice to have the Photopass pics, as well.

Am exactly the same...am not sure if we will purchase it or not! I look forward to reading on your PTR what you decide to do

I'm in a debate with myself over the Photopass CD too, not sure if I want it or not... Either way I will be bringing my own camera though. And if I do decide to do the CD then I want to pre-order it for sure! So I need to make up my mind soon!!

I'm so happy to read I am not the only one having this debate over the CD!! Good luck deciding. I think we will def want to pre-order the CD if we want to buy it as well, however we have longer to decide. I think it may be worth it for your kids to have them magic shots to look at - look forward to reading what you decide to do!

I was just visiting my cousin who has been to Disney World several times with her kids. She thought the photopass was definitely worth it so I went ahead and did the pre-order. It says that if you decide after the trip you don't want the CD, the money is fully refundable. I figure I'll go ahead and get it now, and if we don't have enough photos that we like I'll just get the money refunded. Of course, I'll take our camera too They charge so much for individual photos that even if you just want 6 or 7, it's worth it to get the whole CD

I'm glad you were able to discuss the PP CD with your cousin who has used it on several occasions. Yay on pre-ordering it! It definitely is refundable - was just reading a thread about how to get it refunded yesterday and it seems pretty straightforward. Good luck with getting your moneys worth! As I will be reading your TR before our visit I may wait until reading about your experiences before making a decision

 

[onescgirl]

Yay, I'm all caught up with your PTR!
I cannot believe this will be your 1st WDW trip. You seem so prepared & knowledgable already!
You will LOVE, LOVE going in Sept. Both of our trips have been in Sept & the lines are very minimal, except for Toy Story Mania.
We've been to both waterparks & they are so much fun! You will have a blast.
This may have already been answered, but I think Zaheer will do just fine on Dinosaur. It would only be scary to small kids. And, I do not think it was too jerky.
I love seeing all of your clothes pictures!
I would like to visit WWoHP too one day. I can't wait to find out what you think about that compared to Disney.

Looking forward to reading more!

 

[TanzUnited99]

Yay, I'm all caught up with your PTR!
I cannot believe this will be your 1st WDW trip. You seem so prepared & knowledgable already!
You will LOVE, LOVE going in Sept. Both of our trips have been in Sept & the lines are very minimal, except for Toy Story Mania.
We've been to both waterparks & they are so much fun! You will have a blast.
This may have already been answered, but I think Zaheer will do just fine on Dinosaur. It would only be scary to small kids. And, I do not think it was too jerky.
I love seeing all of your clothes pictures!
I would like to visit WWoHP too one day. I can't wait to find out what you think about that compared to Disney.

Looking forward to reading more!

thank you for catching up with my PTR!

Aaw thanks - the only reason for being so prepared and knowledgable is because of reading yours and others TRs! I sure love these boards - they are loaded with so much information!

Yay!! I love hearing about low crowds during Sept! We will just have to make sure we make it at rope drop on DHS day so we can ride Toy Story Mania.

We are both looking forward to the waterparks for different reasons - Zaheer wants to ride all the slides and have an adventurous day and I want to lie on a chair or just go around the lazy river all day!

Thank you for answering the Dinosaur question. I have had other responses saying the same thing so will definitely try and get Zaheer on it with me.

Thanks - I thought posting the clothes would help when it came to packing time!

I am really looking forward to seeing WWoHP and seeing how it and the rest of the park is different from Disney. Having seen some great pics and reviews of the new area is adding to the excitement. I just want it to be September now!!