Through Fresh Eyes...One Week Left 5/1

[ValarDisneyus]

Love the costume...so cute.

And the princess dress is awesome.

Thanks so much! She's very excited to dress up, both for Halloween and for Disney. I can't wait to see how the characters react to her dress!

 

[ValarDisneyus]

japan is really real? that's so cute! isn't it amazing when they start to figure that kind of thing out?

I need to get on the costume making in a major way! the girls want to be rainbow dash from my little ponies and a peacock. of course, I picked out complicated pictures to show them and now am trying to talk then into simpler versions.....we'll see how that goes!

Ohhh, somehow I skipped over your comment when I posted my dress, I'm so sorry!

Hello there. Yes, Japan is Really Real! She is precious, I love our conversations. I should really make a journal of them so I can remember them when I'm older. Rainbow Dash should be pretty easy! You can sew a fleece-strip mane down the hood of a zip up hoodie, Make long fleece strips to sew on as a tail on blue sweatpants, and get the printable iron on transfer paper from Michael's for the cutie mark!

The peacock, though...I have zero ideas. Good luck, and may the Force be with you!

 

[donac]

I love the dress. Where did you get the fabric? I am a villan girl and that is just up my alley,.

 

[teekathepony]

Japan is real? awesome costume!
Love the dress, I followed Brianna on deviant art forever, adore her work.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[ValarDisneyus]

Yes...that's a picture of me. I want you to embrace the (mock, granted) gravity of the situation I am in. First, let's all take a moment to examine my hair.

No, really really look. I heavily edited this photograph to give it the gravity necessary, it also helps make every strand of frizz stark and bold. I feel as though we should all get comfortably acquainted with the semi-curly entity that is my hair. It has such a personality that we might just give it a name and consider it the fourth guest on our impending vacation. I have read several TRs recently where people who originally liked their hair considered the bond severed when the relationship was tested by Florida humidity. Stand back y'all; my hair may not grow longer, but I think things are about to get BIG.

Next up on the less vain, more actually relevant bit:

Uhm, I have three weeks as of today to actually decide what parks I plan to be in during eating hours so that I can make my ADRs. PS: I'm the most indecisive person ever. Case and point: hey! We switched to Pop Century and added a day! Don't judge; after (AFTER!) adding a day and picking a resort that allowed my military discount, I literally saved a thousand dollars. Really.

Now then...stand by for a tentative schedule post so I can get myself amped to book ADRs!

 

[Gracefulskinny]

The hair situation is nothing to sneeze at. It will probably be best to and smart of you to prepare for a hair explosion of epic proportions and be relieved if you luck out and your hair doesn't have issues.

Glad you were able to add some time to your trip. Good luck on picking parks. I struggled with that last trip. Not so much this trip but that's because DH and I are choosing to stick to qs for most meals on park days.

 

[KatMark]

Oh the hair...the dreaded hair in Florida. I told Mark that next time we go, I am going back to my younger days of having a page boy haircut.

That is a huge savings!

I can't wait to hear what ADR's you decide on, Amanda.

 

[ValarDisneyus]

I love the dress. Where did you get the fabric? I am a villan girl and that is just up my alley,.

Good gracious me, I didn't even see I had replies to do! I got the artist's (Brianna Garcia, she works for Disney now, actually!) permission to have it printed special. I had to special order it; it took about a week and a half.

 

[ValarDisneyus]

Japan is real? awesome costume!
Love the dress, I followed Brianna on deviant art forever, adore her work.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

Yes, Squeaks is at the glorious age of hilarious quotes. For example, she wants me to explain the Haunted Mansion just about every night. I told her last time that she has to go to the seance with Madame Leota and if she can keep an open mind, she can go to a ghost party. (What? You explain it! That's the best I can do! And I don't even know if I'm right-I've only been to DisneyLAND.) Then:

Squeaks: Open mind?
Me: Yep.
Squeaks: .....but what are you going to put in it?

Thanks for the compliments on the dress, I love Brianna, too. Up next will be hand basting about a billion godets. I'm excited and also not all at the same time.

 

[ValarDisneyus]

The hair situation is nothing to sneeze at. It will probably be best to and smart of you to prepare for a hair explosion of epic proportions and be relieved if you luck out and your hair doesn't have issues.

Glad you were able to add some time to your trip. Good luck on picking parks. I struggled with that last trip. Not so much this trip but that's because DH and I are choosing to stick to qs for most meals on park days.

I'm actually going to spring for the leave-in conditioner my favorite stylist uses on me. Maybe a bit of curl cream to seal it all in. Much beyond that....oh well!

Picking parks...I *think* I've got it. We won't get to do EVERYTHING, but I suppose we'll just have to go back....

 

[ValarDisneyus]

Oh the hair...the dreaded hair in Florida. I told Mark that next time we go, I am going back to my younger days of having a page boy haircut.

That is a huge savings!

I can't wait to hear what ADR's you decide on, Amanda.

Hello Kathy!

I don't know, your hair looked like typical rain hair in the rain photo, but the picture of you and Mark...I think you're waiting for a ferry...I'm not buying it. You look beautimus.

Yes, the savings was just too good to pass up! It opens the door for a couple special plans I'll put in the update coming along here in a few minutes.

 

[STLMickeyMom]

I can't help one the hair front. Mine is stick straight. When at Disney I also always have it pulled back in hopefully cute for a 41 year old mom ponies. I can't wait to see the ADRs though!

 

[KatMark]

Hello Kathy!

I don't know, your hair looked like typical rain hair in the rain photo, but the picture of you and Mark...I think you're waiting for a ferry...I'm not buying it. You look beautimus.

I went from the room to the car and a 10 second walk to dinner. Luckily at that time it stuck. But as the evening went on....well, you'll see in the next update.

 

[ValarDisneyus]

Okay, I consulted the Easy WDW May 2015 planning calendar as heavily as possible when we're this far out, which it's hard to remember we actually are considering so much of the heavy lifting of planning is pretty well due now!

So here's the planning calendar from EasyWDW:

So, taking into account crowd levels and what days I just really wanted to be spent in certain parks, I made a handy dandy grid. I even wrote out the ADRs I'm fairly certain we want on those days. I should come up with a few backups if our first choices don't work so that we don't end up eating at counter service all day, but so far, I'm pretty pleased. I can't decide if Cinderella's Royal Table would be a better Breakfast or Dinner experience. I also can't decide what day we should do the Bibbidy Bobbidy Boutique, which I will have to call and schedule on my 180 day mark as well. Decisions, Decisions!

Also, I wrote out some preliminary sewing plans, for those interested.

​

That wasn't so bad! Hopefully now I just won't overthink it all and change my mind every second. I don't have much opportunity, once I have the reservations that is it my friends. If I get seats at BOG our bums shan't move from that spot!

High-Fives all around. If we plan in being at the same place at the same time, tell me! We should totally ACTUALLY high five!

 

[ValarDisneyus]

I can't help one the hair front. Mine is stick straight. When at Disney I also always have it pulled back in hopefully cute for a 41 year old mom. I can't wait to see the ADRs though!

Awww, well mine is best described as "big." Like, if medusa's snakes were somehow made of hair and not unpleasant to look at...that's really the best description I can come up with. Honestly, the easiest way for me to fix my hair is to wash it before bed and lay down so it's not weighed down; then it curls up loads better and doesn't get heat damage from a dryer. So....air drying in Florida...ADVENTURE IS OUT THERE!

I went from the room to the car and a 10 second walk to dinner. Luckily at that time it stuck. But as the evening went on....well, you'll see in the next update.

LOL, fair enough!

 

[KatMark]

Do you know that in 25+ trips, we have NEVER consulted a crowd calendar.

I like your plans. We have never done Cinderella's Castle, but I am sure I have read more "good" reviews of breakfast than I have lunch or dinner.

 

[ValarDisneyus]

Do you know that in 25+ trips, we have NEVER consulted a crowd calendar.

Ha! I felt it was wise for us because Squeaks is so young and lines will be hard for her to get used to. They're just a fact of life, though, so she'll have to try.

...I like your plans. We have never done Cinderella's Castle, but I am sure I have read more "good" reviews of breakfast than I have lunch or dinner.

Good to know. I do think a perk of a Breakfast ressie would be that if I can nab one for pre-park opening, I stand a good chance of getting a great picture of Squeaks in front of the Castle.

 

[Gracefulskinny]

It looks like 3 of our days overlap! Sunday evening Monday Morning and Wednesday morning. I'll be posting my schedule once I've got ADRs locked down.

 

[SarahDisney]

In terms of the hair - I always think I have it under control, and then when I get there, I have to pull it back or change my hairstyle (and of course I just got a haircut right before the trip that I can't really pull back easily). And I have very straight hair. Expect your semi-curly hair to look nothing like what you want it to look like.

Schedule looks good to me, and I love that you have the dresses down there!
It looks like most of your days are recommended parks. I've never used the crowd calendars before this trip (and barely used them this trip), but I think following them as much as you are will be good for Squeaks.
I especially like that you have a rest day between 2 MK days - MK can be a lot, so its great to relax in between!

In my experience, BOG & CRT will be the hardest reservations to get, so once you get those, don't try to move days, but some of the others may be adjustable. We picked up both 1900PF & Tusker House (which we later dropped) within 2 months of the trip (and could have picked up Coral Reef, but I decided not to) - if you follow the ADR cancellation threads, you may be able to pick up some good stuff even if you change your days. So nothing is set in stone.
(Of course, we also got a BOG within a few weeks of the trip, but that was because they extended park hours, so we picked up a "just before the new closing" ADR)

 

[ValarDisneyus]

It looks like 3 of our days overlap! Sunday evening Monday Morning and Wednesday morning. I'll be posting my schedule once I've got ADRs locked down.

Hey, cool! I know I should look a little more to make sure I know what I wish I'd reserved so that I don't miss out. I have a few wide open spots that I should look into. I think I've hit all the character meals Squeaks wants most (she told me she doesn't want to do the Crystal Palace.) I've heard good things about the Liberty Tree tavern; I think we're going to miss the Hollywood Derby this time, but again: *mock sigh* I suppose we'll just have to go back...

In terms of the hair - I always think I have it under control, and then when I get there, I have to pull it back or change my hairstyle (and of course I just got a haircut right before the trip that I can't really pull back easily). And I have very straight hair. Expect your semi-curly hair to look nothing like what you want it to look like.

Schedule looks good to me, and I love that you have the dresses down there!
It looks like most of your days are recommended parks. I've never used the crowd calendars before this trip (and barely used them this trip), but I think following them as much as you are will be good for Squeaks.
I especially like that you have a rest day between 2 MK days - MK can be a lot, so its great to relax in between!

In my experience, BOG & CRT will be the hardest reservations to get, so once you get those, don't try to move days, but some of the others may be adjustable. We picked up both 1900PF & Tusker House (which we later dropped) within 2 months of the trip (and could have picked up Coral Reef, but I decided not to) - if you follow the ADR cancellation threads, you may be able to pick up some good stuff even if you change your days. So nothing is set in stone.
(Of course, we also got a BOG within a few weeks of the trip, but that was because they extended park hours, so we picked up a "just before the new closing" ADR)

Yeah, those are definitely the first things I plan on trying to do. I'm glad I don't have to try and choose between the Star Wars meals and the BOG reservation! I'll have to fight for a SWW dining spot at a later time.

When it comes to hair, there's this one blog post I've read about how to choose clothes for Disney (judge if you must, but there will be a great deal of photos of this that will be lasting memories. I'd like to not be a schlump.) and I'm SO jealous of the lady who helps write it; she has this big floppy hat that does NOT look ridiculous on her, AND her hair is obviously straightened with an iron and it does NOT get frizzy.

WHAT SORCERY IS THIS?

Still though, congratulations to her.

ALSOPLEASETELLMEYOURSECRETS.