STACE Mountain @WL Aug2010 PTR with PICS- Update 7/22!

[camsmomE]

Are you supposed to leave a tip daily? I have left it at the end, I hope I am was not doing it wrong, should I change this trip?

My DH is a front desk manager at a resort (he used to be a housekeeping director) and he tells me that it's better to leave a daily tip because you might not always have the same "mouskeeper" each day. From the numerous trip reports I've been reading though, most are the same everyday.

Also, I do all my t-shirt designs on a Word document with TONS of text boxes (because you can remove the line, and you can move the image or words around easier) To add the "fashions" to the mickey head balloons, I pasted them into Paint and tweeked the images with a paintbrush (with view on 250%), then I just copy/paste into another text box in the Word doc and scoot it into position. I like doing it this way because it is SO easy to print onto a t-shirt transfer. Also, by doing it on Word, I can do a screen capture and "shrink" the whole t-shirt design to a size more appropriate for Cam's toddler shirts.

 

[Overexcited]

My DH is a front desk manager at a resort (he used to be a housekeeping director) and he tells me that it's better to leave a daily tip because you might not always have the same "mouskeeper" each day. From the numerous trip reports I've been reading though, most are the same everyday.

Also, I do all my t-shirt designs on a Word document with TONS of text boxes (because you can remove the line, and you can move the image or words around easier) To add the "fashions" to the mickey head balloons, I pasted them into Paint and tweeked the images with a paintbrush (with view on 250%), then I just copy/paste into another text box in the Word doc and scoot it into position. I like doing it this way because it is SO easy to print onto a t-shirt transfer. Also, by doing it on Word, I can do a screen capture and "shrink" the whole t-shirt design to a size more appropriate for Cam's toddler shirts.

What do you mean by paint, is it a word like program?

 

[camsmomE]

What do you mean by paint, is it a word like program?

yes. if you click on "programs" then "accessories" you will find "paint."

 

[Overexcited]

yes. if you click on "programs" then "accessories" you will find "paint."

Many thanks, I am just so so about using the computer. Good at what I need and do not know much about the rest!

 

[Mindy5767]

On the Mousekeeping.. do you leave the envelopes at the beginning of the day before you leave for the parks or breakfast? That way, I would assume, it gets into the hands of the mousekeeper who actually cleaned your room. You said its $3 per family member per day... right? In Nov, we'll be staying DVC, and we only get mousekeeping on the 3rd day... and then after we check out.

You can do a screen capture in Word? I didn't know that. On the latest version right? That's 2007... I think I do know how to do screen capture with Microsoft Onenote which comes with Office Home & Student. I keep my Disney planning notes in Onenote because it looks like real notebook binders with tabbed dividers. I also am unsure how to do text boxes in Word and insert pictures/jpgs. I have always used Print Shop Deluxe, now version 20 to do anything graphic like, but I haven't yet printed on a iron on transfer.

 

[camsmomE]

On the Mousekeeping.. do you leave the envelopes at the beginning of the day before you leave for the parks or breakfast? That way, I would assume, it gets into the hands of the mousekeeper who actually cleaned your room. You said its $3 per family member per day... right? In Nov, we'll be staying DVC, and we only get mousekeeping on the 3rd day... and then after we check out.

You can do a screen capture in Word? I didn't know that. On the latest version right? That's 2007... I think I do know how to do screen capture with Microsoft Onenote which comes with Office Home & Student. I keep my Disney planning notes in Onenote because it looks like real notebook binders with tabbed dividers. I also am unsure how to do text boxes in Word and insert pictures/jpgs. I have always used Print Shop Deluxe, now version 20 to do anything graphic like, but I haven't yet printed on a iron on transfer.

The screen capture can be done on older versions too because it's not really a "Word thing" but a windows option. Here's what you do: center what you want to capture on the screen, press "Fn" and "F11" simultaneously (that does the capture. Then open a new Word doc, press "Ctrl" and "V" (that does the paste. Then look at the very very top of your tool bar and you will see "Picture tools" click on it, and you will be given a new toolbar which includes "crop" After you crop, click anywhere outside the picture, then you can "drag" to the right size." As for text boxes, just click "insert" then find "text box." then Insert "picture" right into the text box you created.

 

[Mindy5767]

The screen capture can be done on older versions too because it's not really a "Word thing" but a windows option. Here's what you do: center what you want to capture on the screen, press "Fn" and "F11" simultaneously (that does the capture. Then open a new Word doc, press "Ctrl" and "V" (that does the paste. Then look at the very very top of your tool bar and you will see "Picture tools" click on it, and you will be given a new toolbar which includes "crop" After you crop, click anywhere outside the picture, then you can "drag" to the right size." As for text boxes, just click "insert" then find "text box." then Insert "picture" right into the text box you created.

Thanks.. I'll have to try that. I have Windows 7 and the latest version of Word on my laptop, although my desktop downstairs has windows XP and the regular version of Word which must be 2003 or something.

 

[camsmomE]

Mindy- I forgot to respond to your first question- I heard I should leave $1 per day, per person, but we're leaving $5 per day (for the 3 of us) in our room before we leave each morning. ($25 total trip)

 

[Mindy5767]

Mindy- I forgot to respond to your first question- I heard I should leave $1 per day, per person, but we're leaving $5 per day (for the 3 of us) in our room before we leave each morning. ($25 total trip)

Oh I was confused. The $3 would be the total for $1 per person per day with 3 people... or we could leave $5.00. We are staying 8 nights.

 

[camsmomE]

Yay!! My loving, wonderful, generous, amazing DH just bought THIS for me...

A Nikon D40 so I can take all those wonderful pictures (of my food probably) at Disney! I can't wait! It's gently used, but it's AWESOME! I only had to give up my rights to all birthday and Christmas gifts until further notice. Now, I need to rethink my bag situation again.........

 

[Mindy5767]

Wow... awesome!! I think you'll love it. I have the Nikon 5000 which is the one Ashton Kutcher advertises. Its so advanced that I need the Nikon for Dummies book to figure it all out. I'm not yet used to such advanced features. I need to learn how to use it FAST!!

 

[Overexcited]

I like the new camera!

 

[cherylsmike]

What a wonderful DH!! Congrats on your dream camera. You will get a great photo of that gate now.

 

[Simba22]

Hey Stacey!

I just read through all of your updates!

Cameran is SOOOO cute! And I LOVE how you spelled her name with an "a" instead of an "o" at the end. I've never seen it spelled that way before but I love it!

I am officially obsessed with your Coach bag! I have one that is about the same size that my BF got me a few years ago. I love it so much but I could never take it to Disney! The way we travel, it wouldn't make it back alive! Or at all for that matter...I have a habit of leaving things behind....

I actually think your 3 bag plan is pretty good. It will take you a day and a half just to get through the bag checks at each park...but at least you'll have everything you need! We have no kids so we can get away with just taking a backpack with us for now!

I love the email you sent the CEO of the stroller retailer! Just the fact that you gave him a lesson on the correct "course" to use was hilarious! I am the kind of person that reads EVERYTHING and looks for spelling errors...I don't know why I do it, but a few years ago I found a spelling error on a receipt...Instead of saying "McDonalds" it said "McDonads" Mc-Do-Nads Sorry, my immature pea-brain finds McDonads hilarious!

Can't wait to read more! You guys are so close! I'm still in triple digits!!

 

[camsmomE]

It will take you a day and a half just to get through the bag checks at each park...but at least you'll have everything you need!

Instead of saying "McDonalds" it said "McDonads" Mc-Do-Nads Sorry, my immature pea-brain finds McDonads hilarious!

 

[camsmomE]

Funny that Ali mentions the Coach bag because I've decided not to take it. It's not that I'm worried about it surviving (I got it on ebay- I get everything on ebay) It's just that the new addition of the Nikon D40 (WAY MUCHO MUCHO heavier and bigger and clunkier than the Canon Powershot I had planned on... made me <MADE ME> (I mean literally tied me up and forced me to) buy a new bag on ebags.com the other day when they had 25% off and free shipping. I mean HELLO, what am I, nuts? right? so here's my new bag

Please note color.
because I may stuff this beauty in the cargo net under my stroller while we take longer walks, while I wear the camera glued to my face, I will also need some way to carry the KTTW cards, FPs and ID, so I bought these...

and because I don't want my new baby (I call him "Nik") to get bumped around in my new LIME GREEN sling pack, I also bought this... (Ali- try to keep it together! )

Ok, next update in 30 minutes. I have to upload pics of what I did today...

 

[Simba22]

and because I don't want my new baby (I call him "Nik") to get bumped around in my new LIME GREEN sling pack, I also bought this... (Ali- try to keep it together! )

Funny perverse thoughts aside...I wish I had a camera worth buying all of that swag for! I did just buy a new camera last year....The Canon Powershot SX10 I think... an upgrade from the S2 IS which broke. I have to say, I can zoom in a lot further and with great quality, but this camera frustrates me! It just downright refuses to take a shot if it doesn't think I have the best light, or the best angle or whatever. It does, however, tell me I have a good shot lined up (as indicated by the little green square) and then the picture comes out BLURRY!! It drives me nuts! I need to get a Dummies Guide for it or something. I did read through the manual but all I really got out of it was how to change to different modes (such as the fireworks mode). I wish I could afford a DSLR but even if I could, I don't think I could ever figure out how to use it the right way!

 

[camsmomE]

I'm sure every crazy person has a day like this (with over a month until the trip!) but today was MY day to be crazy. I "dummy packed" all our luggage that I plan to take on our trip to WDW with pillows, blankets, heavy objects, JUST SO I COULD "TEST LOAD" THE CAR! Here was the result:

It worked! I did it (all by myself I might add!) PLUS, there's still room for my "cold bag" to lay on top of the two larger suitcases. Did you notice that the yellow and black stroller bag is already totally packed- for real?

If anyone needs a Cameran fix...

here she is at her Little Gym class! Sorry, couldn't resist!

 

[Mindy5767]

I love your new lime bag. It looks (shapewise) just like my LLBean healthy back bag. Unfortunately, mine isn't lime. I have a leather one (too heavy) and a slightly smaller size which is purple floral print canvas. I may or may not bring. We have our new Nikon 5000 DSLR (the one Ashton Kutcher advertises). Its awesome, but it is so darned complicated!! It came with a book on photography and a book explaining all the camera's features, but who has time to read it?! Today, we just finally got through Heidi's ballet recital. Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs. She was a dove. See my facebook page for pics. I need the book photography for dummies! I hope they have one. Our camera came with a pretty fancy camera bag. Its 50% of the size of the camera bag DH bought for his old film camera in 1982. and its not vinyl (another plus). But carrying it is awkward. I wish we could get away with a stroller. However, even though she fits.... should I really put an 8 year old in a stroller?

You might want to consider getting a pin trading lanyard. This is a Disney obsession. I have a lanyard, but it got too full of pins and too heavy. Wearing it around my neck while carrying everything else was just too much.

Did you see that man's touring plans on the August board!! OMG... I printed it all out and now I'm home free!!! He saved me hours and hours of planning time. YEAH!

I'm still on the fence about Chef Mickey vs. Early Magic at DHS for TSMM.

 

[annmarieda]

I had to sub...you just crack me up. Your dear little one is so darn cute too!

Gotta go back and read through all the pages I missed...