Two Peas Pack Their Disney Bound Pod ***Updated 10/07 with pics, PLEASE READ***

[PirateFish989]

Yes, I agree that planning moments are also moments to savor, so I am trying. It's like being stuck between a rock and a hard place- on the one hand I want to be there now, but on the other hand, I know that once the planning is all over, the trip will be over soon too

Yes! I, too, agree! Waiting for something you really want and are excited about is always bitter sweet. It reminds me of Christmas. There is always that month of waiting and excitement and anticipation that seems to last forever and then when the day finally comes it is over too quickly!

The picture of you and Pluto are too cute!

 

[hjd0411]

Hi Ashley - great start to your pre-trip report! I will be at WDW about 2 weeks later than you. That makes it sound closer for me!!! I'm at the 72 day mark and I'm having some sleepless nights and nightmares eek: ) already.
I have to agree with you re breakfast - I could eat breakfast 3 times a day!!
Thanks for sharing your plans. I'm always interested in seeing what others are doing - gives me some good ideas!
Looking forward to more updates soon.

 

[AshleyMWC]

Good morning and hello to my loyal followers! Well this isn't really an updtae, but I had to share my good news with someone, and where better than the comforts of my pre-trippie?!

Well, I had planned on having an update posted this weekend with my decorated LGMH and possibly some new Crocs- if I can ever find the ones I want! I know that I can order them online, but hey, I'm cheap, I don't want to pay the $10 shipping if I don't have to.

BUT, back to the regularly scheduled program, guess what, my mom and I are getting to go to the beach for the weekend!!! We used to go EVERY year for a week, as a family when I was younger, but I have not been in about 6 years. We have tried to plan this weekend for about 2 months now, but something always happens at the last minute and we can't go. Well, this one looks like a go! I am leaving work in about 20 minutes, going to the Kenny Chesney/Sugarland concert in Virginia Beach tonight, then my mom is picking me up after that and heading to Nags Head! Ah, I am beyond pumped (This is AT LEAST a 3 dancing banana moment)

So, since I have no pics of new crocs or LGMH to post, how about just an old Disney pic from a few years ago:

I will definitely decorate the Mickey heads next week though, and maybe I'll even find some "treasures" at the beach to post pictures of. Have a wonderful weekend everyone. Until next time......

 

[klbest]

Ooooh, Virginia Beach & the Outer Banks!!!! LUCKY!!!!! This is the first year in about 20 years that we aren't going to the Outer Banks. We have gone every year with my parents but decided not to this year. Mostly because of our Disney trip but we just decided there were other places to see!!!! DH and I used to go to VB all the time too - love it there!!!

Have a great time!!!!!!

 

[LISAMWDW]

Have fabulous time!!

 

[PirateFish989]

Have a great time!

 

[AshleyMWC]

Well, well, welcome back to everyone who is still following along! I am back from the beach and the Kenny Chesney concert, and I am happy to report that BOTH were absolutely wonderful! So, who wants to hear about the crazy (yet very typical) schedule my mom and I pulled off Friday night?! OK, I assume everyone is raising their hands and yelling “me, me, me”!! Well, before we get to that, you must suffer through the time leading up to that, heehee (ok, or you could just skip it) Ok, so my friend Cathy and I left Richmond at 2PM, en route to Hampton, VA to pick up another couple to go to the concert. We arrive in Hampton, with no problem, and proceed to pack up the cooler with adult beverages to tailgate and such at the concert. Cooler packed, we hit the road along with about a million other people- literally- to meet more of our group at Wendy’s. Here is where things get great! One girl in the group has had matching t-shirts made up for everyone in the group! I will take a pic tonight and post it if anyone is interested. So, for anyone not a country music fan (GASP!!) Kenny Chesney sings a song entitled “She think my tractor’s sexy”, which is what our shirts were modeled after. The shirts were John Deere colors, green, with yellow writing: front of shirt = Big tractor picture with SEXY written under it, back of shirt = Wanna ride? OK, they are cuter in person- especially when about 17 other people are wearing them all together! I can’t even tell you how many people came up to ask asking which booth we bought our shirts at!!

Warning, rant ahead: So, our massive green group gets there and we proceed to chat it up with all the people tailgating around us, and make friends with a really nice couple in the van next to us. Now, mind you there are literally hundreds of cars of people tailgating around us- with BIG coolers out and such, and who might you ask do the bike cops make stop- oh yeah, us! We weren’t being rowdy, loud or anything, and I still maintain that the shirts made us stand out. Heck, we weren't even drinking out of cans like the people around us. Ok, I know that they were just doing their job, but still, it was annoying at the time. Ok, rant over, back to the show.

Anyhoo, we proceeded to drink and dance the night away- ok, mostly I danced the night away (seeing as I am unwilling to pay $8 for a Bud Light!), and it was awesome! There was one sort of creepy older gentleman next to me who kept telling me what a good singer/dancer I was. Hopefully he was very intoxicated for his sake, because let me assure you, this girl is no singer! I did take dancing for 15 year, but I digress.

So, we leave the concert at 10:30 before the encore starts, to beat SOME of the cars. By the time we get out of the parking lot it is about 11, and yes, mom and I still have not left for the Outer Banks yet. Long story short, I have my mom meet us in a very sketchy Quality Inn parking lot (sorry mom, it seemed ok during the daylight) around 11:45 and we are finally on the road to Nags Head. I think we got to the beach house around 1:15AM! Ugh, we were beat! We did manage to stay up and eat popcorn though and finally hit the sack around 2 AM. SO, there you have it, my Friday in a nutshell- keep in mind that my mom gets up around 5AM every morning for work, so she had been up almost a full day Friday!

So, the rest of the weekend we spent walking on the beach, shopping, shopping, eating, and of course shopping. The best news of all you might ask (ok, well probably not the best part of the weekend, that would have to be the amazing dinenr we had Saturday night), I managed to do some Disney shopping while at the beach. Remember those pesky Crocs I couldn’t find in Richmond??? Well, here they are, the right color and everything (Mary Jane, Peacock, Size 7)- saved me $10 in shipping.

I heart them very much , and I was pleased to weasel some trip shopping into my mini beach weekend. Oh, and I got another interesting and very fitting purchase. Check out this Christmas ornament!! Could it be any more perfect for my mom and I (hint: note the TR title!!!!)??

Here is what the little card attached to the ornament said.

Ah, I just love it- it must have been meant to be don’t ya think?! So, here are a couple more shots I took. The first one is, well, the beach- tough one I know. The second two are the Wright Brothers Memorial as seen from our front porch (with a lot of zoom, hence the less that great quality). So, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

In other, more pre-trippie news, I spent a few minutes last night compiling a list of must-do’s and must-see’s for the upcoming Disney trip. I know that there are many more than this, but this list is limited to those things we have never done before!

Ahem, ahem, drum roll please:

Disney must do/see/eat’s

Schoolbread in Norway- doughnut- good, cream filling- good, coconut- good, what’s not to like?

Epcot Pick a Pearl- I have always seen this and never done it. I hear that going for the ugliest/hairiest one is the best idea. We shall see- man, I hope I get a big one or a black one and they ring the gong for me. Wow, I am way too excited about that thought, maybe I need some more hobbies

Mickey Rice Krispy Head (Goofy’s Candy Company)- I know, it’s almost a sin to have never had one of these. I am already contemplating what toppings to have on it. It will definitely be dripped in milk chocolate, and possibly covered in peanut butter cup...or maybe white chocolate…or maybe Oreos…ahh, how will I ever decide?!

Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich- I'm talking the one made with the fresh cookies and multiple scoops of ice cream! I cannot even tell you how good these look on the food porn thread. How have I missed these the past 20 years?!

Dole Whip- Ok, well I have had one, but DM hasn’t. This woman loves pineapple and soft serve ice cream- she will totally love this I know! And, since we can now get them at the Poly, what could be nicer?!

Fiesta Margarita- I just have to have one of these! Enough said…

Off Kilter Show- I have never seen these guys, how is that possible?!?! I bought one of their cd’s a while ago and I can’t wait to see them live- and maybe get an autograph and a picture or two

Ride Dumbo- How have I never ridden this?!?! Oh right, the line is always RIDICULOUS!! I want to ride mostly to take pictures while on the ride.

Well, that’s all I could think of at the moment, but I’m sure I will add to the list later on. Hm, seems like there are a lot of foods on my list, maybe I need to think of some must-do’s to burn off the must-eats.


Oh, I also don’t know if I mentioned or not that I am planning on having a surprise delivered to our room the first night at the Poly for my mom and I to eat on all week! I have been obsessing over the Cake thread on the Disney Restaurants board, and I am hooked. I love cake!! I am thinking of asking them to do a Peter Pan theme with “We’re off to Neverland” written on it. My DM doesn’t really have a favorite movie, but she does like the older movies better than the newer ones- and she likes Tinkerbell also. I hope that the Poly can make a great Peter Pan cake, but lately I have been reading about less than polite people in the Poly’s private dining department, so I am a little worried already.

Well, I guess I better get back to work. Up next, decorated LGMH and the beginning stages of DM’s 30 day countdown calendar!!!

 

[hjd0411]

Hi Ashley - great update! Glad you were able to get your Crocs! Now, are they comfortable?? I am so unsure of how they would be! Some of the shoe stores here sell them, but only the type that you got. In the city there is a Croc shop which sells other styles too. I think I can feel a trip to town!! Good excuse to catch up with friends too, for lunch!!!

I like your list of Must Do/See/Eat!!! I think I would have a few of the same! Not the School Bread, though - I don't like coconut!! Ice Cream Cookie sandwich sounds yummmmmmmmy!!! When I went to WDW in 2002 I did the Pick a Pearl. They didn't sound the drum for me rolleyes: ), but I did get a nice pearl. I still haven't had it set in anything yet (!!!) but aybe I'll try to get another one this time and make a set of earrings or nice pendant.

Glad you had a great weekend at the beach. Sounds good.

Look forward to more updates!

 

[AshleyMWC]

Hi Ashley - great update! Glad you were able to get your Crocs! Now, are they comfortable?? I am so unsure of how they would be!

I have to say that I find Crocs very comfortable! I have multiple pairs- 2 Mary Janes, and I am about to have 2 pairs of the Beach ones. My DBF thinks I am nuts, but they are comfortable, and honestly, I just think they are fun. I have even turned DM on to them and now she wants a pair of Mary Jane's now. Hope you give them a try.

 

[LilGMom]

Great TR, you had me at the title. I, along with my crew, are arriving at the end of your trip so if we come down a day early can we crash at your pad? (just kidding)

Sorry to hear about your Dad but you and your Mom sound like amazing and strong people. I'll be reading your TR with a lot of interest since I am starting to consider taking my Mom next year. We aren't nearly as close as you and your mom are and I may come to my senses before I mention it to her but the thought is there.

 

[klbest]

Welcome back, Ashley!

Awww, you posted pics of the Outer Banks....we would normally be there now and I really miss it.

I have been wanting to get the MJ Crocs but I can't decide what color...brown, olive green or black....maybe I should just get all three and be done with it!

I'm embarrassed to admit I've never done any of the things on your To Do list either! Maybe I'll try them this trip...especially the one's involving food!!!!!

 

[AshleyMWC]

HELLO all!! Welcome back foolish mortals- lurkers included. Judging by the number of posts read I can tell that I must at least have a couple of lurkers out there, and sadly enough, that makes me much happyo. So not a word, but I'm in a weird mood this morning. I think it's because my in-laws (ok, technically just my DBF's parents, but after 8 years can't we just refer to ya'll as inlaws?!?!) are coming in town toinght just for the night and that means being nicer than I might have planned on being tonight. Eh, they are good people and we go get along really really well, but you know, in-laws nonetheless. So, I must rush home for 30 minutes at lunch and spruce up the dump, er, I mean house, since for some reason I am the only one who can pick after anyone else Ok, really it's not that bad, but I must make sure the doggies haven't dragged any unmentionables into the den, as they tend to do. I don't know what it is, but man, the pups do love a good undie fix Too much info? Sorry

Oh, and speaking of the pups, who's up for a good dog story from yesterday? (I promise I will post something Disney related at some point in this post) Ok, so DBF and I have two killer dogs- ok, definitely not killers, just plain ol miniature schnauzers. They are actually two of the most loving dogs you will ever meet. To say they love people would be a gross understatement. They follow me everywhere- even to the bathroom. I kid you not, I do my business with an audience most days- because when i shut the door I am forced to listen to scratching on the door and howling. Most of the time they co-exist nicely and basically lay on my lap. Well, until any kind of feeding time comes along. Cue foreboding music......

As anyone with multipe dogs may know, dogs (especially young ones) do not share their food- at least in our house. No questions asked, no sharing, no problems. Well, yesterday morning began as any other. I was running around like a mad woman who was running late for work (which incidently is 5 minutes from the house), and Disney was quietly eating his food in the kitchen, safely baby-gated from Noel who was just staring at her food in the den- as is normally the case. She's finicky, she's a woman, she can't help it. So, I see that Disney is done and can be let out of prison, as we loving refer to it. I open the gate, he makes a bee-line for Noel's food, which genius here had forgotten to pick up. Fighting ensues (you know the kind, fightin teeth out, high pitched barking, etc). I being a great mother reach in to grab Disney. As I make said grab, DIsney apparently still has his mouth open intended for little Noel, and instead his mouth plants FIRMLY into my right bicep. Cue screaming, and less than lady-like words from my mouth. I kid you not, I have never felt pain like this before, and I have a very high pain tolerance. I start running around the house doing my "stubbed two dance" as my DBF calls it. SUddenly however, I am overcome by extreme heat and start to see bloakc spots everywhere- oh my Lord, I am about to faint. I manage to make it to the kitchen and lay down on the cold tile floor, and reach into the freezer for the frozen rolls to place on my head. You can't make this up- it must have been truly a sight to behold. Anyway, after the faint feeling passed, I made it to the couch to lay down, and i happened to look down at my arm. Besides the puncture marks from Disney's little teeth (and yes they are pretty little, he only weighs 15 pounds) I notice that my hand/fingers are all clinched together. I then realize that my whole arm is in some serious pain and I CAN'T separate my fingers. I broke down and called DBF at work- crying- obviously. Luckily he also only works about 10 minutes from the house. By the time he got there the fingers had separated themselves but teh pain- well, let's just say- i still felt like actual daggers were shooting inside my arm. Ugh. So, to make this way too long story a bit shorter, DBF MADE me go to the doctor, and I am so not a doctor person. 1 tetanus shot and some antibiotics later, I finally made it to work at noon. Oh, and by the way, today, it's a toss up as to which hurts more- the arm with the tetanus shot running amuck or the bitten arm. Oh, and to top it all off, we had to call animal control and file a report. They came out to the house took one look at Disney and laughed. Here is a picture of the little killer himself, doesn't he look vicious?!

Oh, and here's one of Noel (my favorite child- I know I'm a bad mother )

Whew, what a day.

BUT, I am a firm believer that every cloud has a silver lining, and my could was lined with Mickey Mouse silver- look what was in my mailbox after work yesterday..............

Well, this Disney fix made me VERY excited as you might imagine! It also motivated me to go to Target and spend money I don't have. I only bought a couple Disney necessities after all.

A plastic file folder for all my documents and printouts- necessity
A pirate folder to keep safe all the maps and other such items I don't want getting wrinkled in my suitcase on the way back- necessity
2 mini-bath poofs (one for DM and one for me) because they take up a tiny bit less room than the full sized ones (and it was only $1 for 2)- necessity- sort of

So, feeling very fulfilled at Target, I set my sights on the beginnings of a Disney countdown for my DM. Since I have only just started it, it might be hard to picture how I envision the finished product. Ahyhoo, here is what I have made so far- I will attempt to explain the rest after said picture

Now, each of these little cards is about the size of a 3x5 index card, and thick like cardstock. I have been saving the pictures from each day of my Disney tear-off desktop calendar, which is where the pics on the cards are from. Oh, and I think we all know where the Mickey heads are from. After I have made 30 of them (a daunting task in and of itself) I plan on making a sort of flip book type thingy- very technical term obviously. Picture those calendars with the rings at the top where you flip a new day each day. I thought my mom could set it on her desk at work. She works for a really really really mean place and an even meaner boss, and cries regularly, so hopefully this will brighten her day a little bit. She is looking for a new job, but it's hard to find good jobs sometimes, so keep your fingers crossed for her!!

Oh, last funny story, then I will release you all. Speaking of the Mickey heads on my countdown- hold cow, that was a tale getting those. I go into Home Depot, and there were of course 3 HD employees hovering over the Mickey heads- yes, hovering. So, being a good little Diser, I proceed to browse the Behr pain chips, taking a few here and there. I move on to the Ralph Lauren paint chips, taking a few more. Then, when I see them disperse, I zoom in and grab the motherload. I have no idea how many I have, but feeling guilty I run (ok, walk) out of HD. I get to the car and gaze at my 26 fresh, new Mickey's. Wait, 26?!?!?! I need 31!!! I can't go back and get more, that would be tres-obvious. So, I kid you not, I drive to a DIFFERENT HD and get more Mickey's. Now that is dedication in my book!!

Ok, it's 1:30, i better get some work done today. Stay tuned for decorated LGMH and the completion (hopefully) of the 30 day countdown

 

[hjd0411]

Hi Ashley - good update!
I know how you feel with your fur-babies following you to the bathroom! I have a German Shepherd who does the same thing!! She learned very quickly how to open my bathroom door (it is a bi-fold) and she always has to have a cuddle...!!! (Too much information - I know!! )

How sweet of you to make that calendar for your Mum - I can understand how she feels with her horrible job. Hopefully something better will come along real soon. In the mean time here is some to help her along!!!

Those tags look good, too! That means it is getting closer!!

And I hope your arm is much better, too. He must have bitten you near a nerve or something! Anyway, at least you have time to "heal"!!

Looking forward to more updates.

 

[AshleyMWC]

Yeah, a reply! I was afraid my stories had scared everyone away for good I will send the pixie dust along to my mom also- thanks! You can't imagine this place she works. She is an HR coordinator and her boss actually tried to make her clock out to use the bathroom- you can't make this up!!! She had a really good interview yesterday, so keep those fingers crossed all you readers and lurkers!!

 

[klbest]

Omg, Ashley, your doggie story was so NOT funny and yet funny all at the same time!!! I hope your arm is ok. Those tetanus shots are awful, aren't they??? Just a side note, we have a half Golden Retriever half yellow lab (Kristy - she's a big mush) and we are currently looking for a little playmate for her.....I love puppies!!! The only problem is, I want to take home every one we look at!!!

You got Disney goodies in the mail! That's exciting!!!! Mickey always seems to know right when to send stuff to cheer us up!!!!

I LOVE the countdown calendar you're making for your Mom! You are putting so much work into it...she will love it and I'm sure it will make every day a little more bearable! There's nothing worse than having to face a sucky job every day!

You're updates are great -

 

[AshleyMWC]

I am working on my Disney countdown and thought that I would shamelessly bump my own pre-trippie up. Does this make me a bad person?! If I get enough info to actually post something tomorrow I will. Work is going to be a beast tomorrow, so i will need soemthing to look forward to tomorrow night.

Hope everyone had a nice long weekend! Back to work and back to school tomorrow!

 

[AshleyMWC]

Alright, time to brush off the 'ol pre-trippie. Pull up a seat everyone, I finally have a new update for you all

Ahhhh, I signed into my TGM account this morning and I was duly informed that my "next Walt Disney World vacation is in 39 days." AHHHH, into the thirties now, I am so pumped!

So, how was everyone's long weekend (for those of you that had Monday off, at least)? Mine was wonderful- mostly because I wasn't sitting at this desk. We didn't do too much. My DBF and I went to the Rappahannock River Monday to a friend's house, and that was fun enough. As we were pulling out of the driveway to come home, however, DBF and I both gave each other the "that was fun, but we're ready to go" look. We then proceeded to talk about how trips to the river and such just aren't as fun once you have visited vacation Mecca- aka, Walt Disney World! You see, we always talk about how after a week at the beach or a weekend out of town we can give the "that was fun, but we're ready to go" look, but it NEVER comes out at Disney! Instead we give the "that was awesome, let's never leave " look. Wow, that was a whole paragraph devoted to nothing really- hopefully we haven't lost too many followers at this point.

So, on to something a little more on topic- but first a minor digression (again, I know). Last night I was feeling kinda bummed for some reason or another. No worries, nothing traumatic happened or anything, I was just in one of those moods. Everyone has them—right?!?!? My DBF was out with his buddies and I was also bored, on top of the mood . So, what's a girl (especially one with an upcoming Disney trip) to do? Well, I went shopping of course. I wasn't sure that I was really that motivated to shop (gasp, I know) so I stopped off at Tropical Smoothie Café for some din-din. WELL, when I walked in, I was immediately transported to the tropics - ok, that may be a bit of an exaggeration but you get the idea. There were big palm leaf-type fans, bamboo counters, tropical colors- Oh my gosh, this must be what staying at the Polynesian feels like- only soooo not as good! I was immediately reminded of my excitement of staying at the Poly in a few weeks! Ok, shopping motivation back!! First stop Kohl's. I wanted to try and find a couple Disney shirts or something, but nothing doing. Well lo and behold, I stumble into the PJ section and what do I find?? OH yes, PJ pants!!!! I was pumped of course. Here's a pic of the pants as well as a close up of the design.

I couldn't find a top to go with them, but there's still 39 days after all! Now I just need to keep myself from wearing them before vacation- these are my vacation jammies after all. At this point I see PJ's and other Disney jammies, I have to get out of Kohl's ASAP, or my checking account is going to be sadder than it already is. So, PJ's in hand (or bag as the case may be), I head home with an urge to make my first LGMH name tag.

On the way home I say to myself, "Hm, I have some LGMHs, but how am I going to make these prize pieces super pretty?" Then I see it in the distance- Ben Franklin Crafts. Quick left turn, cut off a few cars, and I pull into the parking lot, full of LGMH hope. Seeing as they were closing in 20 minutes I made a few quick purchases and headed home. I already had the design planned out in my head, so I only had to sacrifice one LGMH to the mess-up pile. Here is the finished product, what do ya think?

It looks better in person I think. The glue that dried clear isn't really visible in real life, and the colors are a lot more vibrant. I am going to try and find a clear luggage tag or something of the like to put it in so it doesn't get all messed up in the parks- yes, another shopping trip in the making already!

Well, I would consider that one successful evening, if I do say so myself. Oh, I also worked on some more of my mom's countdown- 11 cards down, 20 more to go. Who knew this countdown would be so labor intensive?!?! Eh, she's worth it

I guess this brings me to my last update for this installment- and perhaps my favorite part of the update. Now, I can't really take full credit for this part, as I "borrowed" the idea from a fellow Diser- thanks Marciemi!!!! While reading her TR I found a fabulous itinerary that she had made! It had pictures and times and parks to visit each day- in short, it was heaven. So, I set out to make one of these little beauties for myself, knowing full well that it might come out looking like total poo. Well, I have to say, I had waaaaaaayyy too much fun making this thing. Man, there was color coding to be done, pictures to be added- I almost felt bad doing it at work- almost. I decided to divide each day into 2 sections as you will see: morning and night- it just makes sense, right? So, drum roll please, here is the finished product, and I don't think it came out too shabby at all.

I still need to get it laminated, but I just HAD to print it out and show it to everyone first. There will of course be a copy for both my mom and myself. At first I had all the days on one sheet, but I just felt that it cramped my creative abilities, so 2 pages it is. You may also note that my last day of vacation is missing. We don't really have any concrete plans for that day, plus it wouldn't fit neatly into my current layout, so it has been left off intentionally. Oh, and here's a close up of my favorite day, just in case you wanted to see ARRIVAL DAY on a more up close and personal level.

So, there you have it- my pre-trip report as of 39 days out. Stay tuned for pins to trade, jibbitz to wear (and share), and a sweet new camera tripod

 

[LilGMom]

Very cute itinerary! I should get motivated to make a countdown of some sort but I think that would just add to my "when is it going to get here" feeling. Kwim?

You and your mom are going to have such a great time!! Can't wait to hear/read more.

 

[LISAMWDW]

Great itinerary!

 

[AshleyMWC]

Thanks everyone, I am having such a good time writing this pre-trip report and I really really appreciate everyone who is reading it.

Lisa, how was the trip minus kids?!?! I'm sure the pace was much quicker than with kids in town

LilGMom- yes, the countdown is making be EVEN MORE excited, but it's still fun. I hope to have it done my Monday (that's my goal at least)!