The Great Costume Debate - A Fall 2016 PTR

[figmentedpixie]

Greetings and Salutations. Are you a Heather? Sorry. Sorry. I literally cannot help myself. I think it’s something about being a child of the 80s/90s; I see an opportunity to quote Heathers and I go for it.

Anywho, welcome to my pre-trip report. Every trip I take to WDW, I swear I am going to do a trip report and every time I don’t follow through (except for one time when I got as far as the pre-trip report). This time, however, will be different. How do I know? Because this entire trip is different.

For starters, it didn’t even start out as a trip to Florida. Originally, we were going to California for a week. But somehow, the more we discussed it, the less it became about Cali and the more it became about WDW -- especially since none of us have ever been there for Halloween. Christmas, yes but Halloween, no.

So we have a different time of year, a different length of stay (it’s actually a bit shorter than our usual jaunts), a different resort, and...for the first time ever...I will be leaving my comfort zone and journeying to the dark side. That’s right, People, I’m going to Universal (-gasp-) to check out the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Let’s get to it, shall we?

What: A quick 6-day trip to ‘the World’

When: September 29 - October 4, 2016

Where: The Caribbean Beach Resort (for the first time ever)

Who: Two thirds of my crew, a group I affectionately call “Team Pirate”. All together there are six of us, but for this trip only four will be in attendance as dragging the west coast contingent in for such a short time seems silly.

So going from left to right, we have…

Jake (aka OJ): 26. Jake is not only the youngest member of our crew, but the newest member as well. Though, honestly, I often forget I’ve only known him for six years. He’s become such an important part of our friend group and one I cannot imagine being without. He’s also becoming my mini-me when it comes to Disney planning. I not only have him thinking of ADRs and crowd calendars, but I’ve gotten him onto the boards as well. If I had to associate a Disney character with Jake it would be either Stitch or Olaf. Probably Olaf.

Me (aka Mary): 33 (as I will not turn 34 until AFTER our trip - ha!). Resident planner and Disneyphile extreme. Almost every part of my life involves Disney somehow -- from the Haunted Mansion background on my laptop, to the Ursula dress I wear to work, and the fact that no matter where I start, my Pandora station ALWAYS ends up back at Disney. Always. Picking a Disney character for myself, I’d probably say Tink.

Gillian (aka G): 34. I met G in an Arthurian Legend class in college and we’ve been besties ever since. I was actually with G the first time she EVER stepped foot into a Disney Theme Park. She is one of my constant travel companions and is known for her ability to make up songs on the fly. Alice is most definitely the Disney character I would be associate with her.

And somehow, managing to avoid being in the picture, is Mia (aka Panda): 34. Extremely elusive, especially when cameras are involved. While Mia is usually the one that plans and budgets and draws up lists, when it comes to Disney, she takes a step back and lets me handle all of that. She is also a California native, which means while she grew up going to Disneyland, she only started going to WDW a few years back. And while Sleeping Beauty is by far and wide her favorite princess, I think when it comes to associations, she’s more a Vader.

That’s it. That’s us. The motley crew that will be your guides through this planning process (and the adventure that comes after).

And maybe somewhere along the way I will learn to stop using so many parentheses.

Planning Posts
Day by Day - Take One
Getting Into Disney Shape
Fastpass + (or the ultimate love hate relationship)
The Great Costume Debate & a Resolution
Achievement Memory Maker Unlocked/A Hashtag is Born
In Which Buying a Scale is Both a Great Idea and Horrible One.
Seven Days and Counting
We're Almost There

 

[figmentedpixie]

Day by Day - Take One


Thursday, September 29, 2016

• Panda’s and my plane arrives in Orlando at 9:30am; G and Jake will already be there as they get in the night before.
• Take ME to CBR and check in; drop carry ons either in room or with luggage services
• Head to AK for lunch and an afternoon in the parks
• ADRs at AKL - Boma (our first time ever)
• Disney Springs for a bit of shopping

Friday, September 30, 2016

• Jake and I head to Universal for a day of HP type fun while Panda and G spend the day at Epcot enjoying the Food & Wine festival.
• Meet at MGM (I just can't call it anything else) for Star Wars Fireworks

Saturday, October 1, 2016

• Magic Kingdom
• Epcot

Sunday, October 2, 2016

• MGM or AK (probably AK)
• Back to the resort to change into costumes/party wear
• MNSSHP

Monday, October 3, 2016

• MGM or AK (probably MGM)
• Epcot
• ADRs at Marrekesh

Tuesday, October 4, 2016

• Undecided - possibly just a resort morning as the ME will most likely come early afternoon
• Flight home leaves at 5:30pm

 

[Jake Harkness]

I see a me!

 

[figmentedpixie]

Getting Into Disney Shape

Though really it’s Universal that’s causing the anxiety, not Disney. I’ve shockingly never worried about my weight at WDW but knowing I’m going to Universal this trip has me ready to hunt down some Phentermine.

When I started this venture I thought yeah! I’m gonna go back to the gym and eat right and I will totally drop a couple of pounds by Disney. Now here we are less than 30 days out and I am pretty sure I have actually gained weight. UGH.

Still, I have not completely given up hope. I broke down a few weeks ago and bought an actual fitbit thinking that maybe, just maybe, if I had to account for everything I ate that it would stop me from eating so much. And it’s working. Most days. As is the fact that I get weirdly competitive with myself over the # of steps per hour feature. What do you mean I only have 3 hours of 250+ today???? Yesterday I had 5! I’m hoping if that continues I might be able to shed at least a few pounds before we leave.

Fingers crossed.

 

[figmentedpixie]

Fastpass + (or the ultimate love hate relationship)

I used to love fastpass. Loved it. Made my day so much easier. Oh this ride has a long line? Well, let’s get a fastpass and we’ll come back. Fastpass +, however, I do not love. I find it leaves me second guessing myself about times and touring plans and the fact that in certain parks you can’t book certain attractions if you’ve booked another drives me crazy.

So when we started out planning this trip, I decided that I was going to make minimal fastpass + reservations. This was a short trip, a different trip. This was a trip for taking things as they come.

Yeeeeeeah that didn’t last. The 60 day mark hit and I turned into that mom camped outside the toy store waiting for a shipment of tickle-me-elmo or whatever the latest hot commodity was.

But all things considered, I think it works.

Here’s our revised day by day with fp+ included.


Thursday, September 29, 2016

• Panda’s and my plane arrives in Orlando at 9:30am; G and Jake will already be there as they get in the night before.
• Take ME to CBR and check in; drop carry ons either in room or with luggage services
• Head to AK for lunch and an afternoon in the parks
• Fastpass + for Everest and Kilimanjaro Safaris
• ADRs at AKL - Boma (our first time ever)
• Disney Springs for a bit of shopping

Friday, September 30, 2016

• Jake and I head to Universal for a day of HP type fun while Panda and G spend the day at Epcot enjoying the Food & Wine festival.
• Meet at MGM
• Fastpass + for Rock n’ Rollercoaster and Star Tours
• Star Wars Fireworks

Saturday, October 1, 2016

• Magic Kingdom (Rope Drop for 45th Anniv)
• Fastpass + for Pooh Bear, Seven Dwarves Mine Coaster, & Space Mountain
• Midday jump to Epcot
• Back to Magic Kingdom for the Main Street Electrical Parade

Sunday, October 2, 2016

• MGM
• Fastpass + for Toy Story Mania and Tower of Terror
• Back to the resort to change into costumes/party wear
• ADRs at Tony’s Town Square
• MNSSHP

Monday, October 3, 2016

• Animal Kingdom
• Epcot
• Fastpastt + for Frozen Ever After
• ADRs at Marrekesh

Tuesday, October 4, 2016

• Still undecided - possibly just a resort morning as the ME will most likely come early afternoon
• Flight home leaves at 5:30pm

 

[figmentedpixie]

The Great Costume Debate & a Resolution

Originally I meant to write this as three or four separate entries with each one detailing where in the costume debate process we were. But unfortunately, real life interfered and now I find myself writing this entry AFTER the debate has been settled and my costume has not only been ordered, but has arrived. (Well, the main part of it anyway).

It’s no secret to anyone who knows me that I love Halloween. Even as I write this, I am sitting at my desk wondering if it is too early to pull out my decorations. Of course, this means when it comes to costuming, I am not a ‘throw it together at the last moment’ kind of girl. I began harassing my friends back in July about their costumes; telling them that we needed to decide on a theme if nothing else.

This, of course, led to a barrage of ideas. Vampires. Witches. Gravity Falls. A modern take on the Sandersons. The Adventurer’s Club. Marvel heroes, no Avengers. Marvel heroes, yes Avengers. DC heroes. Until finally we landed on Disney characters. Which, really, it was probably always going to be but we like to occasionally pretend.

Especially since Panda had, for weeks, been hinting at the fact she knew how to make the perfect Boo costume. So now she is going as Boo, I’m going as Lilo, Jake is going as Dipper, and G is going as Lottie (but in a short dress -- new costume rules).

I’m not quite sure where everyone else is in the ‘hunting and gathering’ stages, but I am almost completely done. My dress has arrived (the Lilo cosplay dress from Hot Topic) and I have red bike shorts ordered to wear underneath (so I don’t have to worry about running around a theme park in a dress). A plumeria clip and bracelets/anklets are en route from Hawaii and I have blue flip flips somewhere on the floor of my closet at home. Surprisingly easy and surprisingly accurate. This will probably also end up being one of my outfits for Awesome Con come June.

I know Panda has the leggings she’s going to wear (along with socks and sneakers). Right now, we’re attempting to find a tee shirt in the right shade of pink that she likes with the leggings. But we think we might have finally found it and it, too, is on its way.

The other two, I may need to prod a bit. Including taking G to Charming Charlie’s so that she can find ALL the pink jewelry that ever existed.

UPDATE: Since I began writing this entry (I tend to save things in Google Drive before posting them), not only has Panda found a shirt that might work, she has found 4 -- all of varying shades, lengths, and sleeve lengths. I am fairly certain she is going to pack all of them and decide the night of the party which she is going to wear. Not that I can blame her. Also, I have found Jake a Dipper Hat while out shopping. So now I know for a fact that 2 of 4 costumes are at least partially done and 1 of the 4 is completely done.

We are on our way, people.

 

[figmentedpixie]

Achievement Memory Maker Unlocked/A Hashtag is Born

I know that a lot of the time Memory Maker is a YMMV kind of thing -- some people love it while others consider it a waste. I have to say, though, for us it’s a definite plus. Not only do we get all our ride photos, but it guarantees that I get pictures of everyone with the various characters we meet, even the elusive Panda. Our last trip to WDW one of the Photopass Photographers actually managed to snag some pictures of her taking pictures of the rest of us with Anna and Elsa. I loved it.

And she seemed amused as well. Even if she won’t outrightly admit it.

So considering we have the Halloween Party this time (and with it some cannot miss characters), Memory Maker seemed like a no-brainer. I made the purchase this morning and even checked to make sure it was properly linked to our reservation. I can now consider that item crossed off the list.

Along with determining this trip’s hashtag. This is a rather new thing within our group and really only started on our last trip. But considering we’re all constantly uploading our photos to FB and instagram, it seemed appropriate. And definitely not out of the ordinary. I don’t know how many people do it for individual trips, but I do know that my boss has several hashtags he uses on social media frequently. One for family time in general, one for family vacations, and one for the fun stuff we do at work -- press conferences and the like.

While last time our hashtag came from the fact that we were going to have all of Team Pirate in one place, this time it was born of conversation that took place in our nightly Skype sessions. Oh yes, we are those people. We group text all day and then Skype all night. My friends are my family or my “Dorkhana” as I like to call them.

One of my friends, whom we call Froggeh but I call My Twinsie, was mentioning how she was tired of the posts on FB and tumblr that were like “if you like this, then you’re basic”. Because really, what does it matter what other people like? No one is saying you have to like it too. Just be quiet and let them enjoy what they want to enjoy.

So, of course, this led to me talking about how I was going to go to the Starbucks on Main Street, get a Pumpkin Spice Latte and stand in front of some oversized Disney pumpkins because I am basic to the max and I care not who knows this. (I really am; I even own an Erin Condren planner and got a few of my friends into the whole planner thing. It may have a cover that makes it look like the Handbook for the Recently Deceased but it’s still an Erin Condren).

This, of course, led to jokes about #basicdisneyb...well, let’s just say it rhymes with witches, shall we? And then, from there we got #bdb. So that shall be our hashtag for our coming trip. #bdb.

 

[figmentedpixie]

In Which Buying a Scale is Both a Great Idea and a Horrible Idea

As part of my continued quest to at least lose a little bit of weight before my trip (a trip that is now 13 days away), I purchased a scale on Monday. Previously, I had existed without a scale in the home and only sporadically weighed myself at my aunt’s from time to time. It kind of worked.

However, if I want to be serious about this weight loss thing, then I need accountability. And those colored lines of my food tracker just weren’t cutting it. Yes, I felt horribly guilty every time one turned red, but because I wasn’t really seeing the real world results, it didn’t force me to change anything. Now having a scale and knowing I’m going to make myself step onto it at least once a week, I am striving harder to have that line stay yellow as often as possible. And this week, I’ve actually done fairly well. Tuesday and Wednesday had the lowest calorie counts to date.

Of course, it’s too late now for any major changes before WDW but I’d accept a pound or two...maybe even three? Just something to show I’m on the right track. And to make me feel a little less guilty about all the goodies I will be sampling at the Food & Wine festival. (Of course, the 13 hour days trekking around Epcot might also help with that).

 

[fallonkendra]

My dress has arrived (the Lilo cosplay dress from Hot Topic)

I bought the same dress! I can't wait to see how your costumes all come together - be sure to do a trip report with lots of pictures!

 

[figmentedpixie]

I bought the same dress! I can't wait to see how your costumes all come together - be sure to do a trip report with lots of pictures!

Thank you!!! I was so excited when I saw they carried it in my size. I seriously cannot wait to wear it. (And the best part is, it's a costume that is also work appropriate so I can wear it to the office on Halloween as well).

Right now, that's the plan. We did pretty well with pictures last time (though sadly I dropped the ball on an actual trip report). Here's hoping the moment from the PTR carries over. xD

 

[figmentedpixie]

Seven Days and Counting!!!

Finally. Not only are we in the single digits, but we’re exactly a week away. This time next week I’ll be on a plane and headed to my happy place (or possibly even there depending on which time I end up posting this). I only lost about a pound according to my weekly weigh-in but I’ve also been told a pound or two a week is the healthy way so while a little upset, I’m not too discouraged.

I’ve also decided to take another step in my mission to better myself health-wise and take the stairs every morning. Right now it’s a bit slow going as my office is on the tenth floor, but I’ve discovered that the method of going up three flights, then using the hall to cross over to the other set of steps, going up another three, and so on is working for now. I’m hoping by Spring I’ll be able to go all the way up with no problem.

I’m also hoping that once I return from vacation and am no longer staying late to do end of fiscal year stuff at work that I can get back into a gym schedule. We’ll see.

Being only a week away, we are now in that final hunting and gathering mode. I have yet to check in with G and Jake about how the final costume preparations are coming, but I do know that Panda finished hers (so yay!). Everything we had to order has been delivered and I have made my packing list.

See, I’m still getting the hang of the whole ‘Disneybounding’ thing. Everytime I try to come up with an outfit, it never quite works the way I want it to. So I’m kind of averaging a C in that category. However, when it comes to theming, I am an A+ all the way. All my bottoms (except the ones going under my Lilo dress) are black -- yoga pants, shorts with pockets, and bike shorts -- but my tops...I have tops picked out for each day and each top has earrings and socks (provided I choose to wear sneakers that day) that go with it.

• Thursday: Stitch & Scrump tank top, Stitch socks, Scrump earrings
• Friday: Mischief Managed tank top, Slytherin socks, Slytherin earrings.
• Saturday: Tinkerbell tank, flower socks, Tinkerbell earrings
• Sunday (morning): Star Wars tank top, Rebel Alliance socks, galaxy earrings
• Sunday (night): Lilo costume for MNSSHP
• Monday: Little Mermaid tank top, Either Kiss the Girl or Flounder socks, Little Mermaid earrings
• Tuesday: Either Avengers or Black Widow tank top, Black Widow socks, Either Black Widow or Winter Soldier earrings

Backup Outfit Option #1: Beauty and the Beast tank, rose socks, rose earrings
Backup Outfit Option #2: The Avengers/Black Widow shirt I didn’t choose, Captain America socks, Either Black Widow or Winter Soldier earrings.

The backup options will depend on what I find when going through the laundry pile. And my sweatshirt for this trip is a gray, pullover Tinkerbell one.

I struggled between Tink and Ariel for Saturday cause hey...it’s out main Magic Kingdom day...we’ll be in new Fantasyland...I could meet Ariel wearing my Ariel shirt. But in the end, Tink won out. For Saturday will be the actual 45th Anniversary of the Magic Kingdom and Tink has kind of always been a symbol of the Disney Parks. So really...it needed to be her.

Our hope is to have most stuff either packed or in a ‘shopping back of holding’ come Sunday night so that all we have to do on Wednesday night is shove stuff in a bag. Of course that means a good deal of Saturday (after Renfest) will be spend going to Ulta and Target and all those other places that will provide us those final things we need like sunscreen and shampoo.

So close. And yet...still so far.

 

[figmentedpixie]

We’re Almost There…

Cue me dancing around my office to The Princess and the Frog like an idiot.

Renfest didn’t happen this past weekend, but that’s okay as Panda and I ran basically ALL of our pre-trip errands (except, of course, for the nail appt I still have to go to this evening). We even managed to get our laundry done AND clean the house a bit -- something that makes us both feel a whole lot better.

All I have to do now is put Hocus Pocus and Eurotrip on my ipod (I know, I know, it’s such a dumb movie and yet I have this ridiculous love for it; to the point where my friends and I watch it on Christmas Eve while we wrap presents). Well, and finish packing. But as of last night, about 85% of our stuff was in the various suitcases.

Though, speaking of suitcases, this time we’re being smart about things and checking two bags going down (normally we only check one and take two carry ons). This way we can have the second carry on empty, and in the bottom of one of the checked bags, so that coming home, we can fill it with all the stuff we bought. Normally, this is a problem as we forget to do this and I, at the last moment, end up buying either a giant zippered tote bag or a small suitcase.

This will probably be my last entry in the PTR as come tomorrow, I can officially begin the Trip Report (it totally counts as half our group will be arriving that day -- even if I don’t go down until the next morning; also, Jake. That reminds me. I’m going to need you to take notes on POR and your Wednesday night activities to include in the TR).

I still can’t believe it’s actually here. After months and months of waiting and feeling like it was never going to get here, we are now at...dun dun dun THE FINAL COUNTDOWN. Come on. Admit it. You sang those words. (This post is turning into a regular musical -- a parenthesis filled musical).

Anywho...thank you for coming on this planning journey with me and I will see you all in the Trip Report. (Which I will link as soon as there is one).