"She exploded into glitter so I swept her up into a Jar" A May 2011 PTR (UPDATE 5/7)

[Moonies]

With only 47 Official Days to go until our "Glittery" Walt Disney World Trip, our group couldn't wait any longer! It's time to make our very first PTR!

Without further ado, let's introduce the cast!

​

Clockwise:

Tux - The only boy on the trip, but don't feel bad for him. It's like this most weekends and he's very patient with all the talk of princesses and shopping. He's Moonie #3 in our signature and is most looking forward to Star Wars (even though we're missing the opening of Star Tours) and not having to drive us everywhere as he usually does.
Edit by Moonie #3/Tux: Yay not having to deal with crazie parking lots.

Maki - Seperately they are Megpie (the one in blue/Moonie #4) and Jayuna (the one in white/Moonie #5) but since they are rarely apart when we go out together, and since Jayuna is the talkitive one of the pair, for the sake of the PTR they will be one. They're most looking forward to seeing the Mad Hatter, some Villians and Princesses such as Belle and Rapunzel, Riding the Thrill Rides and taking a photo in front of the Italian pavilion to honor their first meeting. Edit by Moonie #5/Jayuna: plus, just getting back to what is the most magical place on earth! =D

Malkin - The "real" owner of the Dis account, the planner and the person the trip is registered under. She's Moonie #1 and will probably be writing most of the PTR and eventual TR. She's most looking forward to meeting Stitch and seeing Eugene and Rapunzel as many times as physically possible. Malkin has gluten allergies and is excited to try out Babycakes NYC in DTD!

Chibi - Our only first timer and about 50% of the reason we're going on the trip (but more on that later). She's Moonie #2 (but only on the board, in real life she's the leader of our pack). She has no idea what she's looking forward to doing besides actually going to Disney for the first time (she is the biggest Disneyaholic we know) and possibly seeing the Magic Kingdom Rope Drop and the 50s Prime Time Cafe. Chibi is also gluten intolerant and is excited for gluten free-fried chicken at 50s PTC.Edit by Moonie#2: Mmmm Fried Chicken....er I mean I'm excited for 50s PTC even without the chicken!!
_______________________________________________________

So onto the Trip. We'll be at the Beach Club Resort in the World from May 8th to May 14th.

We're on the DDP and we've done all our ADR and have an itinerary sketch out and we're excited to go!

Moonie #2:
Friday May 6th (our unofficial start and where our countdown will end) - Lion King on stage in Toronto A birthday present to one half of Maki

Saturday May 7th - Drive across the border from Canada to Buffalo and stay in a hotel by the airport.

Sunday May 8th - 6:20am flight out of Buffalo, stopover at Detroit, touch down in Disney by 1pm. Spend the day in Epcot and go to Akershus in the evening.

Monday May 9th - Spend the Day in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter (some of the other reason we're going in the first place, in fact technically the reason we planned the trip in the first place) then back to Magic Kingdom in the evening for the Electric Parade and Extra Magic Hours until 2am!

Tuesday May 10th - Magic Kingdom day! Hoping to make it to Rope Drop for the show, spend the day there and head to Crystal Palace for dinner!

Wednesday May 11th - Animal Kingdom day and Beaches and Creme for Dinner. We're so excited to try the Kitchen Sink!

Thursday May 12th - Breakfast at 1900 Park Fare (to assure that Megpie meets the Hatter) and then a day in Hollywood Studios and a diner at 50s Prime Time Cafe.

Friday May 13th - Afternoon Tea at the Grand Floridian for the girls and then an evening at Epcot to try out Tokyo Dining!

Saturday May 14th - Back to Buffalo on a 12:30 flight. Fingers crossed Delta will "aciddently" bump our flight to later in the day

So that's the introduction to the post. We've got a busy 47 days until we leave and are excited to document it here!

 

[taylor91]

I was intrigued by the pre trip report name, so here I am and ready to read more

 

[Moonies]

I was intrigued by the pre trip report name, so here I am and ready to read more

Thanks! I promise we'll explain the name of the PTR in the next post

 

[Moonies]

Malkin here. So I guess the next most important part of our pre-trip report is the name, or rather why everything about our trip refers in some way or another to:

​

It's this way for approximately (and one of the others will correct me) 3.5 reasons.

Reason the 1st: The most obvious and relevant. I booked our trip through the Walt Disney World website. Which is a very lovely, very aesthetically pleasing site. Especially the button at the very end of the reservations that says Book Now. Okay, in retrospect nothing about that button glittered or sparkled but it felt like it did. And then the Tinkerbell "please wait" DEFINITELY glittered. And I told this to Chibi who told it to Tux and we must have at some point told the other two because when everyone sent me their deposits they all referenced how glittery and tempting the button was and how I should click it and book, which of course I did.

Reason the 2nd: We have friends who we hang out with nearly as much as each other, but we found they were less than excited to hear our constant excitement about the trip, both on Facebook and in real life. So because everyone had labelled the payments as Glitter we began to call it that EVERYWHERE else as well.

Reason the 3rd: Jayuna got all the girls necklaces this holiday with glitter and seed beads in them. This may only be related to reason 3.5 but it SEEMS relevant. In short I broke mine (the cork came loose of the glass bottle that all the beads/glitter were in and shattered so I had to rebuild it) --- so I scooped glitter into a bottle from the floor. (edit from Jay: Wow, I didn't even know this was a reason. XD Unintentional awesome!)

Reason the 3.5th: Initially only Chibi, Tux and myself were looking and planning things and obsessively staring at photos or what not. Then Jayuna got bored of doing her school work (All too true >.>) and Chibi sent her a video of the Beach Club (the Dis one) and she claimed that she exploded. Into glitter. (I did indeed!)

Which is when I got the text message at work that read: I broke Jayuna. She exploded into glitter, so I swept her up into a jar.

Edit by Jay: THE EVIDENCE! =D Taken off my facebook where it was originally posted.

So that is our "naming" story. Next up: All the crazy things we're doing until the trip! And maybe some more backstory about why we started planning the trip in first place...

 

[amandaluvsgoofy]

Wow! I just read your posts and am intrigued! You guys sound like a really cool group of people! I can't wait to read more!

Sounds like a fun trip! I definitely want to stay at the Beach Club some day! We walked through it last time and it's beautiful! We stayed at the Boardwalk and loved the convenience of being to close to Epcot & DHS.

 

[taylor91]

I love it Haha, cannot beat a bit of glitter!!
You all seem a lot of fun, definitely looking out for another update. Your trip is fast approaching...I bet you all can't wait

 

[Moonies]

Wow! I just read your posts and am intrigued! You guys sound like a really cool group of people! I can't wait to read more!

Sounds like a fun trip! I definitely want to stay at the Beach Club some day! We walked through it last time and it's beautiful! We stayed at the Boardwalk and loved the convenience of being to close to Epcot & DHS.

I personally love the way the Boardwalk looks but for some reason we never got it when I threw in the options or it came out as more expensive And who could ever beat the SAB? The clown pool at Boardwalk terrifies me!

Thanks for reading!!

I love it Haha, cannot beat a bit of glitter!!
You all seem a lot of fun, definitely looking out for another update. Your trip is fast approaching...I bet you all can't wait

We should have our "how the trip came to be" post up soon. I'm waiting for Chibi to get back from an interview to read over it since it's got a lot to do with her.

We're dying with how close/far our trip is! On Day 50 from Lion King/May 6th we started counting down by Disney Animated Features! It's a little confusing because now I know that it's Brother Bear Day but only vaguely remember that it's 44 days to go!

Thanks for reading!!

 

[loganpaulsmom]

I am reading as well and very intrigued.. and if you guys are dressed like your picture I definitely won't miss you at EMH.

 

[Moonies]

I am reading as well and very intrigued.. and if you guys are dressed like your picture I definitely won't miss you at EMH.

Jay: Glad to hear you're with us! =D Haha, we won't be dressed like that at Disney, sadly. D: That picture was taken at a local fantasy/sci-fi convention where dressing up like that is normal to us, but we'll be dressed (mostly) normal at disney (as much as we wish we could wear costumes ) The closest we'll come will be sundresses inspired by certain Disney princesses/villians!

 

[Moonies]

The Burning of Alice aka "WE CAN SLEEP IN A TREE HOUSE AT DISNEY?" (Or how the trip ball really got rolling)​

Jay here, though I've got Malkin to thank for writing this up! =) Posting this while sitting at home while my university randomly declared a snow day. We got a random freak snowstorm where I am sadly, which is so weird since A) its the end of March and B) there was grass yesterday T^T Long post is long, but I hope you enjoy!

The real formation of the trip with solid plans started about a year ago. Previously the plans had been mere thoughts drifting through our heads. It started when they really, truly, honestly announced the opening of Wizarding World of Harry Potter. EVERYONE in our group (even those not going) are Harry Potter fans in one way or another. We have all dressed up in Harry Potter costumes. We went to the book premieres and the movie premieres. Maki bonded over getting the 7th book on its release date when they first met over seas in Italy. We are from the Harry Potter generation and it has affected us each in a powerful way.

So we KNEW we had to go to see WWoHP, if not the first year it was open as soon as monetarily possible! We knew this around NYE 2009. Only at the time Chibi was also planning a Disney wedding so we knew it would have to be postponed because no one could afford ALL those costs all at once, as we would all be joining her on her wedding as well.

Long story made short, only a few weeks later, Chibi found herself in the hole for $800 and without a fiancé, a wedding OR her first Disney trip. She wasn't happy and we, as her friends were very concerned. So we talked more about a short weekend sort of jaunt (from Canada no less) to WWoHP and maybe a stop over at Disney if she felt up to it without stirring up too many bad emotions. And the more we talked about it (and at the time there were 7 of us discussing it) the more we realized how a weekend jaunt was a little silly and unrealistic and how we should just do a real vacation. We batted the idea around for a few more months until April 2010.

By then doing Disney vacation research was a little bit of a joke. The Disney World site was something Malkin would pull up randomly for fun just to see when we got together to make the Twisted Princess costumes as pictured: Twisted Sleeping Beauty (Chibi) and Alice (Megpie)

and the link to the reference art for the two of them:
http://jeftoon01.deviantart.com/gallery/11344500#/d265ukf and http://jeftoon01.deviantart.com/gallery/?offset=24#/d1y2yyafor an upcoming Fantasy Convention in Toronto in addition to creating some other big costumes for another convention in May.

The fateful night had all of us at Megpie's getting ready to burn the costumes to make them more authentic. Bored (and not one to burn things), Malkin jumped on the computer close to the patio door (where Megpie and Chibi were lighting items on fire) and loaded up a Disney site. And after some link clicking announced that "they have tree houses you can sleep in at Disney that's like the only thing that will fit all 7 of us the way we like to sleep."

All worked ceased. Megpie's head popped back into the house. "Treehouses?" she queried.

"With bunk beds." Malkin said nonchalantly.

"YESSSSSSS." Megpie said, her voice echo'd by Chibi's.

And so it looked like we were staying at the Saratoga Springs resort. Only then Malkin (as she is apt to do) started to do more research and realized how very much in the middle of nowhere (in Disney terms) these treehouses were. So instead she looked into the Beach Club Villas. Which were much closer.

Meanwhile, the dates were picked, based on a rate calculator and everyone's various jobs/exams/future conventions. The second week of May was decided on. Just after exams ended for those of us in universities, a week those of us with jobs were able to take off, and just a couple weeks before one of our big conventions at the end of May. Perfect!

Then two of the party looked like they might drop out. Not wanting the vacation to get more expensive or to be cancelled altogether, Malkin and Chibi started to look into getting 2 rooms at the Beach Club or Yacht Club instead of the one so the one could be cancelled or added later as the situation arose.

There was lots of talk of booking, a book was bought (which Malkin was SURE would jinx the trip into non-existence) and then Malkin (who had saved 20 offers testing different options and signed up for every possible Disney service or letter) received a magical pin.

Previously it had been decided we would try to book through a timeshare that Megpie's mother had. Since that didn't seem to be saving us any money and looked like more hassle, it was decided the pin was the way to go.

We waited until the very final week the pin (a magical 35% off deluxe resorts for our pre-chosen dates) was available, gave the group a final warning and decided to book. The two party members decided that they were indeed not going and Beach Club somehow came out cheaper than Yacht Club in a twist of Disney math so a standard room was booked.

Now this may seem cramped for 5 adults, but we frequently stay in hotel rooms/bedrooms together and have done much worse. We even have a "yard stick" to decide if a room is large enough or not.

So we were booked!!! Total package ( Tux (while enjoying a LOT of Holiday 'cheer' ) having discovered in a random act of clicking that it was cheaper to book the airfare through Disney and go out of Buffalo and rent a car to go from Toronto to Buffalo, than actually just flying from Buffalo) through Disney and were all ready to go.

The only hitch (which we discovered after finding the Disboards) was that we remembered that the original wedding was to be held at the Yacht Club Wedding Pavilion. Which wasn't a big deal unless Chibi saw a picture. Then she'd get upset. But she decided she'd rather make GOOD memories there (and enjoy the Stormalong Bay, which we're rather excited for) then let the Pavilion take control. We just have to avoid the actual structure is all! But never fear! We're up for the challenge!

 

[Moonies]

I just had to come and post that today was FINAL PAYMENT DAY! (which we technically celebrated a month ago when the final payment cleared my Visa, but STILL!)

This day is one that I truly believed on some level would never come. March 24th seemed like such a far off and unattainable date when we booked on December 1st. Now we wait for the magic envelope of glitter (known in sane circles as "boarding pass etc mail) and then we're off!!!!!!!!

 

[loganpaulsmom]

It is all so real now isn't it? I love it.. and in just a few short weeks we will get out package from WDW.. it seemed like back in Nov. the day would never come.. now its just 5 weeks out.. Just can't wait!

 

[Moonies]

It is all so real now isn't it? I love it.. and in just a few short weeks we will get out package from WDW.. it seemed like back in Nov. the day would never come.. now its just 5 weeks out.. Just can't wait!

The day I HIGHLY suspect the Disney Mail will come will be exactly a year from when we officially decided to go on the trip. We have coincidences like this all the time (the number of times we all could have met and the ways that we did eventually meet are fantastical) All the mail comes to my place and I have been FORBIDDEN to open it without everyone there, I hope it arrives close to the weekend when we'll all be together because I think having the package just sitting unopened, staring at me will be tortured.

In the words of the little girl at the end of the Memories commercial "I'm so excited!!!!"

 

[loganpaulsmom]

The day I HIGHLY suspect the Disney Mail will come will be exactly a year from when we officially decided to go on the trip. We have coincidences like this all the time (the number of times we all could have met and the ways that we did eventually meet are fantastical) All the mail comes to my place and I have been FORBIDDEN to open it without everyone there, I hope it arrives close to the weekend when we'll all be together because I think having the package just sitting unopened, staring at me will be tortured.

In the words of the little girl at the end of the Memories commercial "I'm so excited!!!!"

That's so great.. I bet you will get it on that day..
FYI. I am a Canadian myself.. Adopted in (dare I say) I early 70's from Newfoundland..

 

[Moonies]

That's so great.. I bet you will get it on that day..
FYI. I am a Canadian myself.. Adopted in (dare I say) I early 70's from Newfoundland..

Aww! You could have grown up with Rick Mercer (the best Newfie we have. -- but I'm bias because I work for him.

Yay Canadian!! =D

 

[Moonies]

So I did have every plan of posting an actual post earlier. It will have to wait, I'm currently typing from the ipad and the laptop is sitting on the floor in my room running its billionth virus scan over the last three days (at least I've stopped getting BSOD. Time to buy a Mac after Disney and I start the new job I think....)

Real post will get thrown in here when I can recover it. So for now: HAPPY ATLANTIS DAY!!

Its creeping closer and I feel my sanity slowly sliding away each day as I count down via Disney Animated features. My staff at work who have me on facebook are confused by my pictures on a daily basis, none of them have figured it out yet .

Once the magical package arrives at Moonie #1s there will be videos to throw up. There WILL be glitter. Too add to that, if anyone is looking to buy a decently priced video camera for their trips to Disney...I'm trying out the Kodak Mini. It's smaller than the IPhone, only has 3 buttons (on/off, record, options), videos in HD, is WATERPROOF (the only reason I want it really), and retails at about $70 I picked mine up for just under $40 on sale at Futureshop.

And now I am off! I promise pictures and glitter soon! <3


Moonie #2

 

[amandaluvsgoofy]

Thanks so much for the tip about the video camera! I've contempalted buying one but figured they were way out of my price range. But <$70 could work!!

Can't wait for you guys to get your Mickey mail (and to all be together to open it!)!

 

[pxlbarrel]

Ok, so you know I had to come on to this thread and subscribe after you showed it to me on your most awesome iPad, eh? LOL

I'm envious since I've never stayed at the Beach Club. But I can't believe you'll be at Epcot and not have a meal at Le Cellier. I crave their maple creme brule. <drool>

Which Buffalo hotel are you staying in? I stayed at one place ... (Clarion??) and all I remember about it was fresh made waffles in the morning. LOL You can see that I remember things by the food. I also remember how easy it was to hop on that plane in Buffalo. The most worrisome thing was leaving the car in the parking lot. We drove my friend's older car and not my newer one.

 

[Moonies]

Thanks so much for the tip about the video camera! I've contempalted buying one but figured they were way out of my price range. But <$70 could work!!

Can't wait for you guys to get your Mickey mail (and to all be together to open it!)!

We were playing around with it in the car today since all of us were finally together! I'll be editing some of the footage together to get a sense of how HD it is and how the sound turns out, but it seemed like a really good choice. I like it over the flipcam for sure and it's so tiny!!

Ok, so you know I had to come on to this thread and subscribe after you showed it to me on your most awesome iPad, eh? LOL

I'm envious since I've never stayed at the Beach Club. But I can't believe you'll be at Epcot and not have a meal at Le Cellier. I crave their maple creme brule. <drool>

Which Buffalo hotel are you staying in? I stayed at one place ... (Clarion??) and all I remember about it was fresh made waffles in the morning. LOL You can see that I remember things by the food. I also remember how easy it was to hop on that plane in Buffalo. The most worrisome thing was leaving the car in the parking lot. We drove my friend's older car and not my newer one.

We had to show you on the iPad today! We couldn't have the ironicness of our PTR intro pic and you taking it go without documentation any longer!

Everyone's crazy excited for the Beach Club! The pool alone (and the fact that it gave me the cheapest and least hassle for a party of 5 adults in one room) is what drew us in. If only every hotel we stayed at had a pirate ship slide.

This trip we decided that we would try to avoid the Canadian pavillion (I blame their lack of Ed the Sock, Rick Mercer and Hockey stuff!) Also Le Cellier just turned into two credits on the dining plan

For Buffalo, Tux is renting a car (he couldn't bear to take good ol'Annie down and leave her abandoned for a week) and we're staying at the Rodeway Inn. It's a tiny little motel right by the airport. No food but it's got a 24 Timmy's on the corner!
Edit by Tux: She might be a stuborn girl, but lit'l Annie deserves more love than to sit in a parking lot all week

 

[JMat]

Great start to your TR! I headed over once I saw your comment on mine- and Im so glad I did!! Youre all in for such a fantastic trip - Im jealous of the friends-adventure style!

Keep us posted with lots of updates, I cant wait to see what happens when MickeyMail arrives