Surprising the Littles, DxDP, CBR and MNSSHP!! A Late Sept/Early Oct 2012 PTR

[disprincessesmom1012]

So I discovered thanks to the DIS that I can mail things to the resort. When we went in 2010 it was mine and my daughter's first time flying. Ok technically I flew on an army plane as a baby and I flew a small Cessna in high school, but I never had to go through airport security. I packed our 311 bags and only had the TSA agent ask us how many seats we had since I put them all together. We also ran out of spray sunscreen since it couldnt be more than 3oz and paid a fortune at Disney.
This time around there is higher security, I have four people to pack for, and we struggled with 3 suitcases last trip trying to get on the plane with a 2yo, I have to minimize.

I plan on only packing two suitcases, its way too hard for two adults to get kids to walk ahead while trying to handle more than one suitcase each. We may have one large backpack but depends on if it can fit in the suitcase. The girls will each have a small backpack to carry with some stuff to entertain on the plane and bus. I will get into all that in a future post.

So here are some pics of my box:

Ok so what is in here:
1. 1 travel size bottle of shampoo and conditioner (treseme)
Jason will gladly use the resort shampoo and from previous visit at my parents I know one travel size will last me and the girls about a week.
2.Samples: I have samples of nexxus and garnier shampoos and conditioners that I got free just in case. I also just got a very small bottle sample of Treseme in the mail yesterday that needs to go in this box.
3.travel deodorant- jason has stick deodorant as well as spry and i have my stick deodorant
4. 4 travel size toothpaste
5. q tips
6. soap - a full size bar since I already have it. i'll just throw out what is left before we come home
7. travel size mousse and hairspray for my hair
8. $1 nail clippers and nail file. Jason has to clip his nails daily. he's a guitar player so its a habit hes had for a long time. i know they are allowed on the plane but i will prob just toss them because TSA makes me nervous.
9.acne cleanser- after hitting my 20s i tend to have outbreaks and I know the heat will def affect me.
10. hand sanitizer- i have a few bottles in here as well as one larger bottle with a clip on it. because of security I wont want to have it in my 311 and then have to dig out of my bag on the plane so I will carry some wipes and grab it out of the box at check in
11. gum
12. purex laundry soap tablet (another free sample, just in case we need to do laundry)
13. tide 1 load laundry detergent (bought for $1 at target)
14. glowsticks-(which apparently count as fluids and need to be in a 311 bag) have have two wands for each of my girls as well as a fancy fiber optic looking one all from the dollar tree. i also bought the 15 pack of bracelets that they can connect to make necklaces. much cheaper than the ones in Disney. (thanks DIS)
15. antibacterial wipes

I still need to add toothbrushes (cheap ones that I will just toss), a large can of sunscreen, and an over the door organizer to hold it all at the resort.

I will still have to have 311 bags but I only get 2 since we will only have 2 carryons. I may be allowed 3 since I paid for 3 seats but Im not counting on it. I do not want any reason for the TSA to cause me trouble. We had no problems on our last trip but that was before pat downs and scans being the norm. I will gladly do the scan as I DO NOT want someone touching me. Hopefully both of my girls will be able to hold still and cooperate for the scan. As a child sexual abuse victim I will not stand for someone touching my children. So heres to hoping all this planning makes things run super smooth.

 

[disprincessesmom1012]

So Ive been away from the DIS a bit lately. Its been really hot here and we have been out enjoying DFIL pool. I started working on the costumes for MNSSHP but havent gotten past one mask. I just havent had the time. I did finish one MNSSHP autograph book but still need to do the second.

On to Day 4 Plans:

This will be our Animal Kingdomday!!

We didnt care for AK on our first visit but we love the zoo and have an annual membership to our local one. We did like the Kilamanjaro Safari and Tusker House but not much else. I think we may have missed some stuff on our first visit and we didnt make it in time for Pocohantas. They cut the line off right in front of us after we had been waiting a bit. I understand the CM get hot and tired and such but seriously there was no one else behind us.
We have ADRs for Tusker House at 9am (which is a little early after EMH till 12a the night before but all well)
Then we will tour the park until close or sooner if we grow bored. We can ride a few more rides this time as I am not pregnant and our oldest is finally 40".
After the park we will hang out and relax at the resort. We could go to another park and may for fireworks or something but I'm not planning on it. Its the only day that I have resort time planned. Though I do have a few times midday that it would be ok to go back to CBR.

I specifically told DBF that he has to take the girls to play somewhere while I get at least an hour of laying in a hammock and reading.

I have a few more things to buy for the trip and alot of stuff to make. We have 101 days to go. Brave comes out on Friday but we will wait to see it on the 29th which is the day we will start giving the girls clues. I'm excited and nervous to give them clues. Aaralynn is too smart for her own good.

Coming next Day 5 plans, Mickey's Grand Welcome, and costumes!!

 

[disprincessesmom1012]

98 DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!




Can you tell I'm excited?

 

[disprincessesmom1012]

I missed posting about 99 days yesterday but I did post that we are at 98 DAYS today.

So day 5 will be Epcot!

This day will be very long but laid back.
We have an early morning ADR for Ohana.
I did make a lunch ADR at Rose & Crown
And a dinner ADR at Via Napoli

Other than Ohana we can always cancel something if we dont want to eat. I made ressies just in case but plan on snacking during F&W

This is DBF fave park. I think because he likes ethnic food and because he likes the buildings. I'm not super wowed by it but I like the buildings and plan to explore the shopping more this trip.

I just ordered small photo albums from walmart with passport images found on the DIS. I hope they turn out good. That should help keep us girls more entertained and of course there are the characters. Last visit Aaralynn got a kiss on the cheek from Mulan and Ariel. She also got one from another but I cant remember and it was a different park.
I am printing coupons for the girls to do pick a pearl in Japan. I had no idea that was something offered. I ordered carriage pearl cage charms from ebay and will pack as a morning surprise for us girls.

There are EMH till 12am this day and we will prob be there that late. We may take a midday break but since its our only Epcot day we prob wont.

Our must dos for this park are the passports, characters, pick a pearl, and whatever rides we can. Nothing is do or die for us at any park.

Next up...Day 6

 

[disprincessesmom1012]

This is our leaving day

Our plane doesnt leave until 620pm (as long as delta doesnt change that) so we have alot of time to make a few stops. This will be our last minute must dos. Mostly characters we missed or rides that we decided we really wanted to do. Our flight is only 2 1/2 hrs so we should be back home by 10pm as long as the airport isnt too crowded.

This will be my least fave day.

Up next: MNSSHP, what to wear???

 

[disprincessesmom1012]

So on Sept 30th we will get to go to MNSSHP. I already bought and printed our tickets. Packed and ready to go in the suitcase, but what to wear??
After a lengthy discussion and bouncing around ideas we have decided to go as.....
A Club Penguin (daddy) and his pet Puffles (us girls)

I have to make the costumes but I have the images in my head already. I bought the fabric for Jasons and I already had material for us girls. I will be a purple puffle, Aaralynn a light blue puffle, and Piper a pink puffle. I cant wait to get them made and packed away!! I will post pictures as soon as I get them done.

Up next...A recap on park days w/ ADRs and must dos (as I need to see it in one place, )

 

[mxkris]

Oh my gosh the costumes sound too cute! I don't know anything about club penguin since I don't have any kids but I can only imagine that a puffle is something adorable! I can't wait to see pics!! I like the the group costume ideas and I'm sure you'll be very original! Great pick!!

 

[disprincessesmom1012]

Oh my gosh the costumes sound too cute! I don't know anything about club penguin since I don't have any kids but I can only imagine that a puffle is something adorable! I can't wait to see pics!! I like the the group costume ideas and I'm sure you'll be very original! Great pick!!

Thank you. I am so excited to make the costumes. Its gonna be tough doing them without the girls catching sight of them. Wish me luck!

 

[disprincessesmom1012]

So its been tough to get on and make any updates with my oldest being SUPER nosy lately. I have gotten some stuff done and will be posting pics very soon. Just wanted anyone following to know I havent disappeared.

Coming up...ADR cards, girls travel bags, and Mickey's Grand Welcome (mommy's version)

 

[BearcatsFan]

I'm still reading! Congrats on reaching double digits!

 

[disprincessesmom1012]

Hey everyone! Ive been MIA again. Been hard to get pics of the stuff I have done without my oldest seeing. Here are a few updates:

We were supposed to go see Brave on Fri but we didnt. Hopefully going tomorrow. We were also supposed to give the girls their first clues to our trip on Fri but that didnt happen either. Ive been too busy with getting things done that I just wasnt ready to clue them in to a trip. Not sure when I will start giving them clues or if I even will at all now. Originally the clues were a way to get them excited enough to wake up at 4am when I say theres a new clue, but with our flight leaving at 730a now it will be too much in the morning.
So the new plan is to reveal AT THE AIRPORT!!

I have the girls plane bags packed with fun stuff to keep them occupied. With such an early flight they will probably fall back asleep but with the excitement I'm not so sure. They are well behaved but can talk loud and bicker at times which makes me nervous around people. So their bags for the travel part of our trip look like this:

What's Inside:
1.magna doodle (cheap version from target $3)
2.drawing pad (joann fabrics $1)
3.Stickers (Dollar Tree. Piper has Mickey mouse clubhouse and left over stickers for scrapbooking, Aaralynn has fairies and Cars)
4.Play packs, includes crayons coloring pages and stickers (Joann's $1, Aaralynn has Toy Story, Piper has princesses)
5.Dry Erase Books (Dollar Tree, Aaralynn has letters and numbers, Piper has shapes)
6.Multi Stick sticker books (Target, I think, these are the vinyl like scenes that clingy stickers can be moved around on)
7. A mickey head necklace (made by me) these will be the clue the girls get to let them know we are going to Disney.

The plan for the reveal is now that we will dress them in the clothes to leave the night before. We will then wake them up to get in the car. At this moment I am not sure if we will have a ride to the airport or if we will be driving ourselves. Last time we went DBF and I were still technically separates (we were working on it but still living in separate states) and his family wasnt speaking to me. Now that his parents are getting divorced his dad helps us out more. I will most likely tell the kids that we are taking their dad to work. He sometimes works at 5am and we have taken him to work that early a couple times. Then when we get to the airport we will just decide to tell them we are going on a plane for a trip. After security I will ask them if they want to find out where we are going nd to look inside their bags. At the bottom is a necklace that will tell them where we are going. I figure my 4yo will be able to figure it out by that.

Some other things I got done:

ADR cards. I will attach these to my lanyard so I can hit up the important rides and attractions (on the back) and keep track of where we need to be and special activities (parades) on the front.

Door signs! These are designs from MarneMouse (I think that right). I ordered them at officemax and had them laminated there. Attached on the back is long strips of magnets to attach to our door.

I also made my ropes for the window but I didnt get pictures of them. I also had my MNSSHP sign printed and my DIS sign.

These are the bags for the girls to trick or treat with. I hear the bags you get are small so I made these so they stand out. They also have their MNSSHP autograph books inside.

I also recieved my pearl cage charms and have them wrapped and the certificates laminated and attached to them. I will have to post pictures later because my phone will not upload to photobucket.

So thats all for now. I have to get working on the costumes and shirts and not much else. So excited to almost be done planning.

 

[disprincessesmom1012]

Hey! Hope everyone had a great 4th! We spent the day at DBF dad's condo swimming and grilling. Not super exciting but we enjoyed the pool. I have been working on the girl's costumes over the last few days. I now have BOTH of their costumes done! I still have to get them flip flops to match and add tulle to them but everything else is done.

They will need their faces painted for the eyes. I painted Aaralynn's to give you an idea of what it will look like. I hear they have free face painting at MNSSHP?? I will buy some face paint so if I cant find anyone to paint it the way I want then I can just do it.

Here is with the face paint. The eyes need rounded better and I didnt have blue paint for the rest of the face. This was done within a couple minutes without really planning it out first.

Before face paint.

I also got the pearl cage necklaces in the mail and finally got them uploaded.

And I got them wrapped and added the certificates (laminated) to each one

So I just have shirts to make and the adult costumes. I think I'm making good progress.

Up next: More costumes, and trying to keep the secret...

 

[amandaw]

Joining in & all caught up!

You have been one busy bee! The autograph books are super cute & the costumes are looking adorable. Speaking of adorable - your girls are so precious!

Y'alls plans sound great! We've eaten at some of the places y'all are trying: Flame Tree BBQ (so yummy! my DH's favorite QS place in all of Disney), Liberty Tree Tavern (we had dinner there last May & it was very good), Rose & Crown (we had a nice seat outside overlooking the water; the food was very good) and The Plaza (I really liked this place. The portions are big & the food is very good). There may have been some more we've eaten at but I can't remember right now.

I've been doing Disney crafting all this afternoon. I started working on our countdown calendar. And since this is our 1st time driving, I'm doing "surprise" goody bags to help entertain our son. They'll mainly be for the drive back home. But, I've been decorating bags. Can't wait to see what else you come up with.

One more thing - I love that you're surprising your girls! I wish I could that but I could never keep a secret like that.

 

[disprincessesmom1012]

And thanks for joining me! The surprise bags sound great!

It's been tough keeping the secret. I want to tell them so bad. Technically I have told the youngest (several times) but she doesnt get it.

Joining in & all caught up!

You have been one busy bee! The autograph books are super cute & the costumes are looking adorable. Speaking of adorable - your girls are so precious!

Y'alls plans sound great! We've eaten at some of the places y'all are trying: Flame Tree BBQ (so yummy! my DH's favorite QS place in all of Disney), Liberty Tree Tavern (we had dinner there last May & it was very good), Rose & Crown (we had a nice seat outside overlooking the water; the food was very good) and The Plaza (I really liked this place. The portions are big & the food is very good). There may have been some more we've eaten at but I can't remember right now.

I've been doing Disney crafting all this afternoon. I started working on our countdown calendar. And since this is our 1st time driving, I'm doing "surprise" goody bags to help entertain our son. They'll mainly be for the drive back home. But, I've been decorating bags. Can't wait to see what else you come up with.

One more thing - I love that you're surprising your girls! I wish I could that but I could never keep a secret like that.

 

[disprincessesmom1012]

So real quick I wanted to post an update. I reworked my lists, I'm a crazy list maker) and dont have too much more to do for the trip. Here's what I have been up to lately:

I took the girls to the salvation army for some blue jean shorts. For $26 I got:

For Aaralynn:
2 khaki skirts
3 blue jean shorts
1 basketball type short (the ones with the holes)
1 pair of gaucho capris

For Piper:
4 jean shorts
1 khaki shorts

For me:
purple leotard for my puffle costume

Since the kids already have enough clothes for the summer and only needed the jean shorts to match their shirts for Disney, I can have almost all of their clothes packed!

I also made our button Mickey head shirts today. I will post a picture soon.

And I took pictures of each pair of shorts to match with each shirt so I can make little cards for when I officially pack the suitcase. Yes I am that anal.

On another note we went to the theatre yesterday to see Brave. It was AMAZING!!!

 

[disprincessesmom1012]

I havent disappeared!! Just been busy with swimming and enjoying the summer. I will be gone for a couple weeks starting next week as we will be on a vacation visiting family.
Since we will be gone for so long, Ive been working hard on getting tons of stuff done. Ok maybe not tons. Here's what I have done since my last update...

These are for one of our MK days. I tried mine one (the blue one) and realized I didnt account for the stretch in the chest when glueing on the buttons. lol. I ended up ripping it. Gonna try and glue a button over the hole and hope it works, if not looks like I wont get to wear a Mickey head shirt.

These are the girls shirts for Hollywood studios. I still have to do mine and Jason's but those will be red shirts with bleached out images. Lets hope they come out good.

So thats all I have done for now. Hopefully I will get more done before my trip to PA to visit my family.

Please dont leave while I'm gone. I'll be back!

 

[amandaw]

The shirts are cute!

Have a fun vacation!

 

[BearcatsFan]

Just got caught up ... you've been busy! Hope you're enjoying your visit with your family.

 

[disprincessesmom1012]

Thanks!! I made two more sets of shirts. We pushed our visit back so we wont leave until Aug 5th. Soon as I can get on the main computer I will post pictures. I have one more set of tyedye shirts to make for our arrival day. I have all of the kids clothes paxked for each day. I still need dresses for the stroller bag and their pjs packed. I know i still have 2months. lol. One good thing about over planning, I realized my backpack for the stroller was ripped so I need to make a new one.

I also got new beautiful luggage that I cant wait to use.

Wish me luck on finishing ecerything up before we leave.

Well Im off tto watch Petes Dragon!!

 

[disprincessesmom1012]

Wow talk about typos in my last post. That's what I get for doing it on my phone.

So I have a few more days before I have to go to Pittsburgh to visit my family and I have a few things left to do. I still have to make my tutu for part of my costume. I still have one set of tye dyes, but I have a coupon that starts on Fri.

Si I mentioned that I got new luggage.

Here it is. It's the prettiest teal blue. I got two. Our plan has been to have two carryons. One suitcase is to hold all of our clothes. Great thing about the warm FL weather is that shorts take up so little space. I have all the girls clothes packed except nightgowns and I have all except one shirt and shorts and undies for us adults. It all fits in one smaller case until we come back from PA.
The other suitcase will hold costumes, Signs for the window and door, surprises for the girls, shoes, and the stroller bag already packed. If for some reason I run out of room, I can always take the stroller bag out and have it as our third personal item. We have three seats since Piper wont yet be 2yrs old. Our last visit we took three carryons, three personal items, and a carseat. NOT FUN!


As promised:

These are the shirts I made for the girls for our AK day. I'm really happy with them. Originally I was going to iron on cute images I found in the Creative DISigns but no iron and a fancy printer that heats the paper too much to make them = making something else.

We have been watching alot of Disney movies. When dont we?
We watched Pete's Dragon and Haunted Mansion yesterday. I also got the girls a bunch on VHS since we still have a VCR and its hard to find dvds. We have 66 movies (bluray, dvd, and vhs combined). There are four that we have duplicates of (Lion King on dvd and bluray, Pocohantas & Little Mermaid on vhs and dvd). We have 40 or so of the 50 animated movies.

When we come home from our family visit/vacation we will have 33 days left till leaving for DISNEY!! I think I will wait till 25 days and try to watch 2/day of the 50 original animated movies. I just need to find the other 10 we dont own. I found four on vhs through ebay but I dont wanna pay $2/tape. I may have to look at the Salvation Army stores again for more. I know some are available for rent at our local video store also.

I'm getting so excited!!!