They're just people in costumes.. PTR Nov14

[obxlvr13]

Hi everyone! I've just recently discovered disboards (seriously, where were you all in January?) This is obviously my first PTR so please bear with me while I start to navigate. I have read many TP & PTR and have spent many hours reading and enjoying all the memories and pictures! I hope you all will enjoy my TR as much as I have enjoyed all of yours! Please feel free to comment or ask question or send advice my way as it is all appreciated!

My name is Karli and I live in Highland Springs, VA (Very close to Richmond!). I work full time as an Accounting/HR Manager for a company that manufactures and sells all natural dog treats and chews, the most popular being the bully stick (https://www.bestbullysticks.com/t/what-are-bully-sticks). I am also in school full time to obtain my Bachelor's of Accounting degree and I have about 2 years left! I am 32 years old and this will be my 4th visit to WDW! I was able to visit twice during my senior year in high school, both school trips, and then again with my family in Dec 2012.

Joining me on this trip will be my husband of 10 yrs (11/13) Tim who is 33 and my daughter Emilee who will be 8 on 11/28. This will be the 2nd trip for both of them.

Here are a few pics of us that I happened to find on FB. It was hard to find pics of me and my husband b/c most of them are of Emilee. She is our only child and so we spoil and dote on her a bit. Tim and I are high school sweethearts although we did not attend the same school, actually we attened rival schools. We are celebrating our 10 year anniversary a week before we leave for Disney!



Emilee: She loves to play softball and this was taken back in April 2014. She is a really sweet girl who is extremely smart. When we went to WDW in 2012, we always encouraged her to take pics with the characters. Her response was very blunty "Momma, they aren't real, they are just people in costumes". Which is where my title comes from. I hope this year she will just indulge us and just take the pictures LOL. She will be celebrating her birthday 1 day after we arrive home from Disney.



I also have some furbabies that I'd like to share with you as well.

First up is Banana- She is a rescue that we have had for almost 5 years. She's a puggle and she really is the sweetest girl on Earth!



Last up are my two kitties. Abigail Jolene and Adrian. I got Abby 12 years ago as a kitten and Adrian is one of her babies. Adrian is 11 years old. Abby is my shadow and follows me everywhere and has to be right next to me if not on me. She is an orange tabby. Adrian is my fat girl who looks like Jabba the Hutt although you can't tell it from her picture, but she is a sweet loving cat who is great at hide and seek! She's the calico.




That's it for now. I'll update with all our plans and trip details in my next post. Thanks for stopping by!

The Plans

 

[jcano]

Your title struck me for a different reason. On our oldest DD's first trip, we didn't make any plans that involved characters. We knew she was terrified of any character we ran into anywhere. She once saw the Mayfield cow in the mall and ran and spent the rest of the day looking over her shoulder. She wouldn't be in the same restaurant with Chuck E Cheese, and once ran across a street to escape someone dressed up in a bird outfit. No character.
So we get to WDW and the castle show was going on, so we stayed to the back to watch. Suddenly she says, "I've got it. They're just people in costumes!"
Duh. How many times have I told you that?
She's loved the M&GS ever since...even at 19.

 

[obxlvr13]

Your title struck me for a different reason. On our oldest DD's first trip, we didn't make any plans that involved characters. We knew she was terrified of any character we ran into anywhere. She once saw the Mayfield cow in the mall and ran and spent the rest of the day looking over her shoulder. She wouldn't be in the same restaurant with Chuck E Cheese, and once ran across a street to escape someone dressed up in a bird outfit. No character.
So we get to WDW and the castle show was going on, so we stayed to the back to watch. Suddenly she says, "I've got it. They're just people in costumes!"
Duh. How many times have I told you that?
She's loved the M&GS ever since...even at 19.

LOL That's so funny how it brought a different meaning for you! My best friends kids are terrified of any animal dressed up and no amount of begging will get them to even get out of the car if they know that restaurant has a mascot that *could* come out to greet them.

 

[obxlvr13]

The Plans

First let me start off with the the simplistics:

Who: Karli, Tim & Emilee
When: Nov 21st-27th
Why: Why Not? We are celebrating our 10yr anniversary and Emilee's 8th birthday!
Where: We are staying at CBR. We had previously stayed at Art of Animation and are really excited to try somewhere new!
Travel: We are flying in Friday morning and leaving late Thursday evening.
Food: We are on the QS Dining Plan (First timers on any dining plan.. EEK!)


Friday: We are flying out around 8 am and should be in Orlando by 10 and at check in no later than 11:30am. We plan to check in, play around the resort, possibly go swimming, take a nap and then MVMCP that evening! I've got a few fast passes set up since they will allow us in the park at 4pm.

Saturday: We are hitting up DHS and I have 3 FPs set up for ToT, RnRC & Frozen Sing Along. There are so many things that we missed at HS last year so I am looking forward to seeing the Osborne Lights come on and riding TGMR!

Sunday: Magic Kingdom Day!! I have FPs for Tomorrowland Speedway, Buzz Lightyear & Space Mountain. I just went with these FPs b/c its what was available so I said Why Not? We also have an ADR for Planet Hollywood in DTD which is our favorite place to eat. Im very basic in my food so Im happiest with a Cheeseburger (plain) and fries!

Monday: Epcot w/ FPs for Test Track, M&G Disney Pals & Nemo. Last time we didnt go through any countries so this time we fully plan on seeing ALL the sights! We also have an ADR for House of Blues that I've never been to before but am pretty excited about.

Tuesday: We have a 11:30 appt for BBB which will be a complete surprise for Emilee. We did not do this last year so I'm splurging a bit. Once we are done there, we are heading to MK for another day of fun! We have FPs for M&G w/ Cindy and Rapunz, Enchanted Tales w/ Belle & Meet Mickey.

Wednesday: This is our last full day and we plan to go to AK. I missed so much last time that I am starting to wonder if I was even on vacation in 2012, LOL. We have FPs for Dinosaur, Kilimanjaro Safari & EE which is my favorite ride! I got Emilee on it 2 yrs ago and didnt tell her that it went backwards. Man was she mad at me when she got off! I love being about to "get" her!

Thursday: Check Out Day! Our plane doesnt leave until 6pm but we plan to hang around the resort in the pool or exploring this day until it's time to go.

I really wanna catch some of the nighttime fireworks this year so Im not sure how our day will plan out and if we will be awake enough to stay up for them. We are usually night owls and like to sleep in so Im guessing we will be fine.

Any suggestions on this we can do, please let me know!

 

[jcano]

Sounds like fun!
You'll be arriving as we'll be leaving.

 

[teekathepony]

I think I'll jump in right here! I got a kick out of your title. Subbing for the rest!

 

[obxlvr13]

I had my first Disney dream last night! We were at the parks for the first day, hanging out and walking around. I look at my watch and its 3pm and I say "Oh crap, we are so late!" I pull up my MDX app to see what my FP+s are and we go ride some weird ride I've never heard of. My husband refuses to wear the MB and has it wrapped around his keys lol. Then after the ride I decide to go back to the hotel to get our clothes of MVMCP and end up back at home and packing our bags! It was definitely weird but also an indication that I might be obsessing a little too much!! Countdown of 7 weeks to go!

Side note: I woke up and turned on the TV and TLC had on Disney World: Behind the Scenes!!!!!!

 

[obxlvr13]

Im less than 30 days out and I am so excited!! I also feel like there are a million things that need to be done but of course I will wait to do them the last week. Take a look people, procrastination in its true form right here! LOL

I just purchased a few things for the trip and I'd like to share them with you all because, why not? First, there are a few essentials that I felt like I needed. I got all these ideas from other posts on the DIS and was really glad I had stumbled upon them.

1. Sketchers Go Walk shoes. I have heard that these are the best shoes to wear at Disney. I'm all about comfort but I also am fashion forward. I HATE tennis shoes with a passion on myself. I feel like my feet are claustrophobic and my legs look like tree trunks in these if I am wearing anything else other than jeans. I had an opportunity to try these on from a friend who happened to be the same shoe size as me and fell in love! I decided to go with basic black b/c Im sure I can make that work with just about anything. I wont be 100% sure about these shoes until they come in the mail so the verdict is still out on whether I'll actually like them or not. I'm a bit picky......



Next I found a cross body bad to carry in the parks with me. Last trip we brought our backpack but I really didnt wanna carry that huge bag. This is an Overland Bayliss Hiking bag. I really like the color of this bag and it was cheaper than some of the bolder brighter colors they had for sale, so score!



I have a DSLR camera that I got last year for Xmas. Im hoping to take a class that will teach me how to use the camera out of Auto mode prior to the trip. I REALLLY hate my camera bag so I found this utility strap that works like a Rapid Strap that Im excited about trying! Hopefully it will lay nicely and not pull at my neck or shoulders too much!



The next two items I've purchases are mainly for the Xmas Party. Our first night in the World will be Xmas Party night so I wanted something special for us to wear. I had found cute little Mickey and Minnie decals that iron on to shirts that I thought we be perfect. When I showed these ideas to DH he said "Really, we are gonna be one of those families" to which my response was "Those families are the norm at Disney, we will be the oddballs out" LOL. So I set about to try to find something a bit different and unique and found these shirts:



Im in love!! and DH liked them too!

For Emilee, I found her this dress to wear.



I didnt want to go strict Xmas theme but wanted something special to wear for the occasion and I think these fit our personalities perfectly!

Thats about it for now, I have gotten some ADR last minute that I will update you all on later! Thanks for stopping by!