Wait, weren't you just at Disney World? An August '14 Pre-Trip Report *updated 8/24*

[TheMaxRebo]

Wow, that is some impressive work on the Magic Bands! They all look great! Nice job! The thank you cards are very cool too. I'm beginning to think I'm the least crafty person on the DIS between this and the others PTR posts I've seen from very talented people like you. I don't believe I've ever done anything like that for a WDW trip, but it's pretty cool to have those custom things!

Thank you - but you are definitely crafty in your own way ... I mean, who else can get a first class trip to Hawaii for her family for under $2k while also sneaking in multiple extra trips to Disney World

 

[MarbleBob]

Dude! Major props on your magic bands. You did a fantastic job! I especially like how Judy's turned out. I'm sure you guys will get a lot of comments on how cool your bands are

Nice work on the thank you card too

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Dude! Major props on your magic bands. You did a fantastic job! I especially like how Judy's turned out. I'm sure you guys will get a lot of comments on how cool your bands are

Nice work on the thank you card too

Thanks Matt! I like how Judi's came out too and got me thinking that they could probably sell Vera Bradley Magic Bands and people would buy them

Hope we get at least a few people to notice them

 

[horse11]

OMG!!! Those magic bands are amazing!!! You guys could open up your own shop designing magic bands. Now I am really inspired and may have to look more into this.

 

[Imagineer5]

Love your outing trip reports, you're really getting everyone used to having baby Emma around! That's wonderful.

Those magic bands, my goodness! THey are beautiful! What an amazing job you did. I LOVE that Peter's is Anna - that is hilarious! Side note - on our photoshoot two weekend's ago the photographer was talking to Aria about Frozen and asked who her favorite was, Aria said "Anna" and the photographer said that is the first time she's heard that! SOunds like she and Peter will get along well!

The card for CM's is really awesome. I look forward to hearing about the interactions that you come across! With that positive spirit, I bet there will be quite a few.

 

[lovedonaldduck]

Love the Magic Bands and especially the thank you cards. I wish I was good with graphics on a computer. But, if you need a spreadsheet - I'm your girl. Guess we can't all be good at everything

Your trip is getting so close! I think we are doing our mini trip the weekend before you will be there - I didn't go back and check your dates, but we will be there the 22-24. I need to get in gear so I can get ready too!

 

[TheMaxRebo]

OMG!!! Those magic bands are amazing!!! You guys could open up your own shop designing magic bands. Now I am really inspired and may have to look more into this.

aw thanks Kathy! Though I don't really own those images so pretty sure if I tried to make money off it might be an issue - happy to pass along the print ready images to anyone though!

Glad to see you got inspired! It was a pretty easy way to do it without needing a ton of actual artistic talent

Love your outing trip reports, you're really getting everyone used to having baby Emma around! That's wonderful.

Those magic bands, my goodness! THey are beautiful! What an amazing job you did. I LOVE that Peter's is Anna - that is hilarious! Side note - on our photoshoot two weekend's ago the photographer was talking to Aria about Frozen and asked who her favorite was, Aria said "Anna" and the photographer said that is the first time she's heard that! SOunds like she and Peter will get along well!

The card for CM's is really awesome. I look forward to hearing about the interactions that you come across! With that positive spirit, I bet there will be quite a few.

Yeah, we are trying to get used to going out as a group and how to handle everything best - hopefully it helps!

Thanks! Yeah, Peter just took a shining to Anna and we definitely didn't push it or anything. Figure it should be fun for Olivia and Peter to show their Magic Bands to Elsa and Anna

I've read a few stories of CMs really valuing the thank you cards that they have gotten from guests so it made me really want to do them - hopefully we get a ton of opportunities to give them out!

 

[missangelalexis]

Wow the magic bands look awesome! And I love the thank you cards you made!

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Wow the magic bands look awesome! And I love the thank you cards you made!

Thank you on both counts!

 

[teekathepony]

Ahhhh that is a really cool effect on the Magic Bands! Especially Judi's, that's awesome!

 

[HarkiQuinn]

I've been gone a while so I had to catch up!

1) YAY FOR GETTING OUT OF THE HOUSE AND GOING TO THE ZOO! I like the "do not annoy the animals" signs, I wish more zoos had that. And the onesies from the Disney stores are really cute, my fav is the Mouseketeer.

2) I really like the magic bands! I think Emma's and your wife's are my favorite.

3) Your idea for the thank you cards is really neat. I'm sure all the CM's will appreciate it.

Can't wait for the next update!

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Love the Magic Bands and especially the thank you cards. I wish I was good with graphics on a computer. But, if you need a spreadsheet - I'm your girl. Guess we can't all be good at everything

Your trip is getting so close! I think we are doing our mini trip the weekend before you will be there - I didn't go back and check your dates, but we will be there the 22-24. I need to get in gear so I can get ready too!

oops, sorry Jennifer - you comment snuck in there while I was responding

Yeah - I think it is great the level of creativity you see from people going to Disney - Disney Bounding, costumes, decorating windows, making girls dresses, etc. Like you said - we all have different skills. This was actually pretty easy as I basically found images on google images, sized them and printed them out.

yeah - we just miss you - we arrive on the 25th. We will be in Florida a bit before that but in the Boca area to see Judi's relatives. I was toying with the idea of driving up for the Villians party - but with it being late I didn't want to drive back after and then getting a hotel and being gone for a night, was just too much

Good luck getting ready!

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Ahhhh that is a really cool effect on the Magic Bands! Especially Judi's, that's awesome!

aw thanks - definitely think Judi's cam out really goo - I think being on a lighter colored band helped.

I've been gone a while so I had to catch up!

1) YAY FOR GETTING OUT OF THE HOUSE AND GOING TO THE ZOO! I like the "do not annoy the animals" signs, I wish more zoos had that. And the onesies from the Disney stores are really cute, my fav is the Mouseketeer.

2) I really like the magic bands! I think Emma's and your wife's are my favorite.

3) Your idea for the thank you cards is really neat. I'm sure all the CM's will appreciate it.

Can't wait for the next update!

Thanks so much - I really liked that sign at the zoo too ... just made me chuckle - but you are right, that is a pretty appropriate thing to put

Thanks funny that those were the two I had the least direction with and probably came out the best.

next update coming right up!

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Pre Trip Report: Part 33 - The one where Lauren saved me money!​

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Hi everyone! Yesterday Emma officially became 3 weeks old - which of course means pictures!

Yesterday also marked the 2-week point until we arrive at Disney

In fact we leave for Florida one week from tomorrow

We have taken care of a few more things. Got our stroller rental set and also decided to book a hotel for the night we get into Orlando as we get in later and then head to Judi's family in Boca the next morning

Also have been working on outfits for Disney - expecting the delivery of a few things I ordered on Friday and also got a few other shirts over the past few days. Have also been working on shirts I will be making - but will leave those as a surprise for the trip report.

In target I picked up the following for Peter and Olivia (she really was wanting a Sophia the First shirt - so this works for our MGM day).

and lastly I had ordered the following - hoping to get a picture of myself and Peter out front of the Haunted Mansion:

As to the post title, in Lauren's (Imagnineer5) thread rental cars and rates came up and she mentioned she thought what we were paying seemed really high (but was lower than we had seen other places so we didn't realize we were high). A little searching on the DIS showed that apparently rates at Dollar have been coming down a lot since we first booked it. So I was able to re-book and after a rebate offer they have we will pay $315 for a minivan for 10 days vs the $607 we originally had - so basically she saved us like $300 ... so, um, Thank You!!!!!

Big things left are settling on car seat setup - not which ones but how we will transport and then finish (well, start really) the packing list

TTFN

 

[annie170]

She's a sweetie and appears very content!

Cute shirts! I really like the Haunted Mansion ones.

That's a great savings on your rental car! I love when that happens!

 

[emmysmommy]

Happy 3 week birthday to Emma!! She's absolutely precious.

That's some serious cash you saved with the rental car. Thanks DISer!

You have some serious Magic Band talent Phil. Those bands are brilliant. I can guarantee people will be coming up to you and asking where you got those. It makes me feel very uncreative and boring with my unembellished MB. What I really love is your thank you cards. They are so perfect. Most guests collect mementos from their vacation but CMs will treasure those thank you cards. I already want one!

 

[Leshaface]

All caught up!

My, you guys have been doing quite a few outings these past few weeks and sounds like you're getting all ready to leave!

The MB's. Seriously. You need to do this as a side job, along with the Thank You cards. Absolutely amazing! I'm reading another TR where they decorated theirs with nail polish and thought that was a great idea, but this looks fabulous. Pretty sure I wouldn't be able to do that, so I guess i'll just try my best with the nail polish.

Score on the savings!

Can't believe you're already leaving in one week!

 

[Imagineer5]

AW I LOVE the kid's shirts - and those HM ones are too cool too. Does Peter like HM? Aria is indifferent to slightly scared...

I'm SO glad you were able to get a lower rate! More trip $$!! YAY!

Emma is just SO precious!! I can't wait to meet her!! The photo of her sleeping brings back SO many memories, Aria always slept like that with her arms up. Awww babies!

Hey, how tall is Peter? I don't remember you saying. I can't remember if you said he will be able to ride 7DMT or not?

 

[JulieODC]

Just came over to check out your pre-TR -- just in the nick of time, before it becomes a TR!!!

First of all, congratulations!! Emma is a beauty! You guys look so relaxed, total pros by #3 --- gives me hope that maybe we'll know a little more about what we're doing down the road when we add to our family!

Nice selection of local craft beers - yum!

And, your trip sounds fabulous! Love saving money unexpectedly --- $300 is a huge savings!

 

[TheMaxRebo]

She's a sweetie and appears very content!

Cute shirts! I really like the Haunted Mansion ones.

That's a great savings on your rental car! I love when that happens!

Most of the time Emma is quite content - except for when she is hungry and Judi isn't there right. that. second! Then she really can let out some yells!

really happy with the savings!

Happy 3 week birthday to Emma!! She's absolutely precious.

That's some serious cash you saved with the rental car. Thanks DISer!

You have some serious Magic Band talent Phil. Those bands are brilliant. I can guarantee people will be coming up to you and asking where you got those. It makes me feel very uncreative and boring with my unembellished MB. What I really love is your thank you cards. They are so perfect. Most guests collect mementos from their vacation but CMs will treasure those thank you cards. I already want one!

Thanks Brenda! Funny that in some ways it feels like 3 weeks went super fast and in other ways seems like we have always had her

Thanks DISer indeed!

aw, thanks Brenda ... I think since my job isn't always the most creative (well, ideally doing Corporate Finance we don't get too creative) I like having some outlets for creativity - and doing some computer graphic work also ties in my bakground (computer engineering - before I switched to the dark side of corp finance)

Happy to send you a Thank You card! Based on all the DISmeets with you I have read on various TRs you definitely have helped to make a bunch of trips more magical