PTR: Because We're Insane: Driving & Triple Split Stay!

[Minnie824]

Just found your trip report and wanted to say hi! We're also going the 17th thru the 25th! DH & I, as well as our 2 DDs, 9 & 7, and my parents. We'll be at AKV. I looked at your itinerary, and on your V&A dinner, DH & I will be at Citricos! Maybe we'll see you there.

 

[JenSop]

Just found your trip report and wanted to say hi! We're also going the 17th thru the 25th! DH & I, as well as our 2 DDs, 9 & 7, and my parents. We'll be at AKV. I looked at your itinerary, and on your V&A dinner, DH & I will be at Citricos! Maybe we'll see you there.

Thanks for joining in! Glad to have you along for the ride.

Yes - we'll totally be there at the same time - maybe we WILL see eachother!

And I don't know about you, but I am getting SO EXCITED! Exactly one month from tomorrow is our leaving date! Woohoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[JenSop]

So I'm just super excited that in exactly one month to the date, we'll be at the Boardwalk. Just sayin'....

 

[mousegear]

So I'm just super excited that in exactly one month to the date, we'll be at the Boardwalk. Just sayin'....

Celebrate A month from WDW!!!
Are you almost finished with getting things for the trip???

I can't wait until our trip... too far away.... Haven't even entered double digit yet.

 

[TanzUnited99]

So I'm just super excited that in exactly one month to the date, we'll be at the Boardwalk. Just sayin'....

on it being one month!!!

Can't wait to be able to say the same!

 

[JenSop]

Celebrate A month from WDW!!!
Are you almost finished with getting things for the trip???

I can't wait until our trip... too far away.... Haven't even entered double digit yet.

on it being one month!!!

Can't wait to be able to say the same!

THanks guys! I'm just so excited! Once you reach the month mark, it's like the final stretch - it's finally almost here and instead of just planning the packing, you can actually literally start the packing.

I think my next update will be on some of the outfits I'm thinking about taking for our dinners out!

 

[JenSop]

Okay everyone - next up.......





What to wear!!!!!!








I have to admit, I really do like thinking about which outfits I'll wear on which days - and especially what I'll wear to which restaurants. Bear in mind that I have a part time job in a clothing store....so I have a lot of clothes. (Occupational hazard.)


So this is going to be a girly post all about clothes for Disney.


BUT I need your help, dear readers. Please help me make some decisions on what I should wear to which meals. Obviously, some places are dressier than others. I know that 1 TS places aren't dressy, but I DO like to wear a cute dress that's a little more casual.


First up - what to wear to Victoria and Albert's for our anniversary dinner. On June 23rd, we'll be married ten years - so on that very day, we'll be eating at V&A's for the first time!

I was thinking this one shoulder purple dress with some really pretty neutral color shoes and some dangly earrings. What do you think?

And these are the shoes:

Then for Yachtsman Steakhouse, I was thinking this navy and white stripe dress. It has a nice drape at the neck and a little bit of ruching at the right side of the waist...

Those are the two that I'm kind of decided on already.

But there are still 5 dinner outfits to figure out. And some of the dresses are casual enough to wear during the day. The dinners that are left to wardrobe are: Cape May Cafe, Kouzzina, Via Napoli, Hacienda de San Angel, California Grill. Ooooh... and I should find something cute to wear for lunch on our last day at Chefs de France for the hot acrobat guy that performs right outside.

Here are some of the options.....



Dark navy dress with a cute belt:

Dark brown cross strap dress:

Green cotton sundress (possible park day dress):

Skirt and tank top combo (also possible park day outfit):

Tie dye dress with super fun swishy skirt:

And I'm thinking this cute halter dress for a night at Downtown Disney:

This doesn't show up well, but it's a light-weight cotton dress from Old Navy. (In a navy color.):

This is a halter dress that I've taken down on at least one other trip in the past:

I wore this on my trip in October, but thought it could be a nice breezy dress for dinner at Cape May Cafe.....hmmmm... or maybe an attractive last day dress.....

And I'll definitely be taking this one down that the girls got for me on our trip in October - my Yak and Yeti dress! The bright colors make me think it could be a good choice for Hacienda de San Angel.

Then this dress could also be dinner or park - it's a nice light cotton fabric, but maybe too dark to walk around in during the heat of the day.

And this is not a dinner outfit option, but I just love my new shorts and can't wait to wear them! I'll wear this on one of our park days.

Okay, so those are all the outfits I took pics of.

I'll also be taking my favorite skirt. I WISH I had this skirt in tons more colors. I got it at the Gap in 2008 and I fell in love with it, but they didn't have any more when I went to get more colors later that summer. It's so lightweight and swishy - I live in it every summer and yearn for the day that the exact duplicate to come along again. I've gotten some similar styles since then, but nothing compares to this exact style - nothing. *sigh* I didn't take a new picture of it, but here's a pic from our July 2008 trip:

Thanks for reading along on this update! I hope the clothing stuff wasn't too boring. My next update will be about the videos I'm going to make while on my trip!

 

[ShesAPirate]

I think your choices sound good. Love the striped navy and white dress and the green patterny halter dress the most, and those shorts are adorable! You must work in a place that sells nice clothes Oh, and the Yak and Yeti dress is perfect for Hacienda de San Angel.

It's funny, I never thought of wearing a skirt or dress to walk around the parks. I'll have to keep that in mind for my next trip

 

[mousegear]

I love your choices for the trip!!!
I also like to wear skirts and dresses for the park (especially for warmer months) since they are much cooler than shorts.
But shoes are most difficult.... most shoes are that looks good with dresses/skirts are not comfortable touring the park. So I just end up with Birkenstocks and Fitflop and hope that no one stares my shoes.

 

[Shannon84]

I love all of your choices, they are all great picks!! I think for Cali grill I would pick the belted dress! And the yak and yeti one would be good for Hacienda like you said...the colors just fit that

 

[JenSop]

I think your choices sound good. Love the striped navy and white dress and the green patterny halter dress the most, and those shorts are adorable! You must work in a place that sells nice clothes Oh, and the Yak and Yeti dress is perfect for Hacienda de San Angel.

It's funny, I never thought of wearing a skirt or dress to walk around the parks. I'll have to keep that in mind for my next trip

I've had a part time job at Ann Taylor LOFT for almost three years now. I really like where I work, but the downside is sometimes buying more clothes than you really should.

Skirts and dresses can be quite comfy to wear in the parks. But that's also why I've been working my butt off (literally) to shed the pounds I gained over the winter, as I can get terrible chaffing from the legs rubbing together. (I've worn biker shorts under my skirts in the past, which is also an option, but it's nice not to have to do that.)

I love your choices for the trip!!!
I also like to wear skirts and dresses for the park (especially for warmer months) since they are much cooler than shorts.
But shoes are most difficult.... most shoes are that looks good with dresses/skirts are not comfortable touring the park. So I just end up with Birkenstocks and Fitflop and hope that no one stares my shoes.

I've had some good luck with finding shoes that work with skirts for park days. I have some super comfy strappy flat sandals (the ones in my picture with the green skirt) that I bought another pair of because I like them so much. I also really like my Reef flip flops for wearing with skirts, as they are casual but really comfy. That's what I wore every day on the Girls Trip in October.

I love all of your choices, they are all great picks!! I think for Cali grill I would pick the belted dress! And the yak and yeti one would be good for Hacienda like you said...the colors just fit that

Thanks - I was also thinking the belted dress for Cali!

And thanks everyone for your input! I really appreciate it!

 

[JenSop]

WOW! I'm down to 22 days on my countdown! Woohoo!!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay, I HAVE to get super organized for my videos.

Can anyone think of something they wished they'd known before a trip OR heard someone say they wished they'd known?

So far this is what I'm planning:

*Everything Fast Pass
*How to use Photopass
*Top 5's:
-Rides
-Beverages
-Hidden Gems
-Experiences

I'm going all out with the editing and want to make these look top of the line professional. So excited!

What do you guys think? Anything else I should try to add?

 

[ShesAPirate]

WOW! I'm down to 22 days on my countdown! Woohoo!!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay, I HAVE to get super organized for my videos.

Can anyone think of something they wished they'd known before a trip OR heard someone say they wished they'd known?

So far this is what I'm planning:

*Everything Fast Pass
*How to use Photopass
*Top 5's:
-Rides
-Beverages
-Hidden Gems
-Experiences

I'm going all out with the editing and want to make these look top of the line professional. So excited!

What do you guys think? Anything else I should try to add?

22 days! Wow, how exciting! I'm super jealous....

I personally love reading people's Top 5 or Top 10 lists. And I have no idea at all how Photopass works, so I'd be interested in that, too.

Oh, I was thinking of you/this TR this weekend in Costco. They had some really cute beaded sun dresses, 4 different styles. I bought two of them. One is so perfect for Animal Kingdom Perfect excuse to plan a trip, right?

 

[mousegear]

Yay Jen!
Only 22 days... is it 21 now?
I've never been to Disney during June.
Just like you I don't do well in the heat. I wilt and melt.
But still, I like to go... So excited for you.
My dates are VERY slowly coming. Still in three digits.

 

[mousegear]

Duplicate!

 

[teachermommy78]

Firstly, your outfits are soooooo cute! My weightloss journey will eventually lead me to Disney in cute clothes. My dh is so sweet. He is always trying to get me to wear dresses more often. Maybe we'll go to old navy tonight. . You've inspired me!

Secondly, you are getting so close which means I am getting close as well!!! We added a day in the parks at the beginning of our trip, so we overlap a bit more! Maybe we'll cross paths! I think posting on people's PTRs sometimes makes people look like stalkers. I'm totally not! I'm just so excited to scope out LGMHs! We will be at: EPCOT 7-23, DHS 7-24, MK 7-25. Do we overlap at all?

Congrats on your singing interview and singing success!!!

 

[Shannon84]

WOW! I'm down to 22 days on my countdown! Woohoo!!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay, I HAVE to get super organized for my videos.

Can anyone think of something they wished they'd known before a trip OR heard someone say they wished they'd known?

So far this is what I'm planning:

*Everything Fast Pass
*How to use Photopass
*Top 5's:
-Rides
-Beverages
-Hidden Gems
-Experiences

I'm going all out with the editing and want to make these look top of the line professional. So excited!

What do you guys think? Anything else I should try to add?

Maybe something restaurant related....favorite places to eat or how to use ADRs

Then again I like when people don't know how to use these things that gives me the edge

 

[JenSop]

22 days! Wow, how exciting! I'm super jealous....

I personally love reading people's Top 5 or Top 10 lists. And I have no idea at all how Photopass works, so I'd be interested in that, too.

Oh, I was thinking of you/this TR this weekend in Costco. They had some really cute beaded sun dresses, 4 different styles. I bought two of them. One is so perfect for Animal Kingdom Perfect excuse to plan a trip, right?

Yay on the dresses! Personally, I think ANYthing can be the perfect excuse to plan a trip!

And I'm glad to know that the Photopass video will help people.

Yay Jen!
Only 22 days... is it 21 now?
I've never been to Disney during June.
Just like you I don't do well in the heat. I wilt and melt.
But still, I like to go... So excited for you.
My dates are VERY slowly coming. Still in three digits.

Those three digits will be down to nothing in no time! I'm always surprised at how fast time flies by. I SO wish I didn't always have to do Disney in the summer. But if DH is going to go, that's when it has to be. BUT, he really wants to do a Star Wars weekend at some point - he's the hugest fan ever - so I suspect it'll happen in the next few years. Maybe we'll make a long weekend of it.

It was quite hot here yesterday. All I could think of was that it was good "training" for Disney.

Firstly, your outfits are soooooo cute! My weightloss journey will eventually lead me to Disney in cute clothes. My dh is so sweet. He is always trying to get me to wear dresses more often. Maybe we'll go to old navy tonight. . You've inspired me!

Secondly, you are getting so close which means I am getting close as well!!! We added a day in the parks at the beginning of our trip, so we overlap a bit more! Maybe we'll cross paths! I think posting on people's PTRs sometimes makes people look like stalkers. I'm totally not! I'm just so excited to scope out LGMHs! We will be at: EPCOT 7-23, DHS 7-24, MK 7-25. Do we overlap at all?

Congrats on your singing interview and singing success!!!

Yes - you should totally make a trip to Old Navy! What have you got to lose? There's so many potential styles, and they're all really affordable.

On our last day (the 25th) we'll be having lunch at Chefs, but might just swing by MK one more time before leaving. Haven't decided yet. We're doing DHS on the 23rd, and right now the 24th is kind of open. That's when we check out of OKW, have lunch at Fultons, then check in at VWL. I was hoping to get in some resort time, since we won't be there long. The main reason we even added that night was to do another evening EMH at MK. We'll be doing both late MK EMH's on our trip - Sunday and Friday. (We LOVE staying in the MK really late - so magical!)

Maybe something restaurant related....favorite places to eat or how to use ADRs

Then again I like when people don't know how to use these things that gives me the edge

How to make ADR's could be a good element as far as a planning video - good idea! I was totally thinking about restaurants, but we're not eating at all our favorite restaurants this trip. Sanaa is my fave 1TS place, but I went there my last three trips, so we're skipping it this time. (Sometimes tough decisions must be made!) Same with Jiko - we love it and have done it a bunch, but we're doing different Signature dining this time. Unfortunately, my videos idea came way after our 180 day window!

But we're definitely going everywhere we need to for drinks! My top picks are going to be: Dole Whip Float, Lapu Lapu (heading over to Poly bar just to get one), Grand Marnier slushie, mojitos, and now I'm forgetting number 5 off the top of my head. (That's why I have to write everything down. ) Although we're planning a trip to La Cava in Mexico, so perhaps I'll be adding tequila to that list and taking something else off!

 

[saintstickets]

Next up - Itinerary!!!!

Okay - I LOVE making itineraries. I make a cool chart that lists everything.

And now, for the first time in public, I am sharing my chart layout! Eek!

I took out the times and confirmation #'s for obvious reasons (But they're there in the original) and am presenting it here for you dear readers!

On the chart, you can also see that I've listed all the park hours for all the days we'll be there - including which have EMH. I also showed which evening EMH's we're going to do. (MK EMH is our favorite!!!!!)

We have a print-out where we've scribbled which parks we'll probably do on which days, but we actually are kind of relaxed about that. One way or another, we're totally sleeping in on Monday morning after our super late MK EMH the night before!

I'm in. Can't wait to hear your ADR reviews. I had to laugh about the itinerary. My family thinks I'm crazy for making an Excel spreadsheet that lists our ADR's, park hours, EMH's, parade/fireworks times & crowd calendars. They laugh but it keeps us from going "willy-nilly" around the parks and we are able to accomplish a lot without it seeming like we are going commando. You will really enjoy V&A. DW and I were there for the 1st time during our trip last year the week after Thanksgiving. There is a reason it is a 5 diamond restaurant! Here's a tip - DW and I wanted the wine pairing with each course but were concerned about a full glass with each course. That's a lot of wine for us. If you want the wine pairings but aren't sure about a full glass with each course, you can ask V&A to split one with DH. You get a half glass of the appropriate wine for each of you and won't have to worry about crawling out of the Grand Floridian after too much wine! You might waddle out after so much food but at least you'll be sober!

 

[JenSop]

I'm in. Can't wait to hear your ADR reviews. I had to laugh about the itinerary. My family thinks I'm crazy for making an Excel spreadsheet that lists our ADR's, park hours, EMH's, parade/fireworks times & crowd calendars. They laugh but it keeps us from going "willy-nilly" around the parks and we are able to accomplish a lot without it seeming like we are going commando. You will really enjoy V&A. DW and I were there for the 1st time during our trip last year the week after Thanksgiving. There is a reason it is a 5 diamond restaurant! Here's a tip - DW and I wanted the wine pairing with each course but were concerned about a full glass with each course. That's a lot of wine for us. If you want the wine pairings but aren't sure about a full glass with each course, you can ask V&A to split one with DH. You get a half glass of the appropriate wine for each of you and won't have to worry about crawling out of the Grand Floridian after too much wine! You might waddle out after so much food but at least you'll be sober!

Haha! Another chart lover!

Thanks for the tip on V&A's wine pairing idea! We just might have to try that!