We love rack rate! Aug 1-17 More NEW pics 9/1!

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I have not bought the boys any new trader pins. When we went in Dec. they did not do a lot of trading. Guess I need to ask them if they are still interested in this & if they are I need to quickly buy some more pins!

Sounds like you all have plenty Elizabeth

I don't know about "plenty", but the darn bags are so heavy I don't think we should add any more! DS put his traders on my bathroom scale and it was over 2 pounds. Those Disney Shopping pins are huge, and they are heavy. Also, those sets of "Cars" pins from the Disney Store weigh a TON. I told DH we need to trade those heavy ones first thing each morning so we aren't hunchbacks by lunch!

We are certainly not the traders you guys are, but I could NOT wait to get my mitts on my Boardwalk villas pin.

It lives in my jewelry box with my "good stuff."

Glad mom sounded good yesterday. Three hours does sound like an ordeal.. Hopefully, it is just the initial round that takes that long?

On trading, do you mostly trade with CM's or other guests?

I always seem to be giving one away to cute little kids.

I don't think I am a very good pin trader but I love the concept.

Last year DD received sets of two pins a couple of times (YOMD), one of which was for giving to another guest. She was in heaven over that.

I guess she will follow in my footsteps as far as trading pins go.

I am not sure how it spiraled out of control like this. DS started off with 5 pins that we got free in packs of Energizer batteries. Seemed innocent enough. Then I bought a bunch of pins from the Disney Store that were on clearance. Then we got sucked into the evil clutches of eBay. Now we can't seem to stop. Although we have broken the eBay habit.
DS has received a couple sets of the "Tinkerbell" pins. One was from a very sweet CM on his last day of the college program at Epcot. I can't remember who the other set came from. We just trade with CMs. Little kids ALWAYS want to trade with DH, which I think is hilarious. We finally figured out it's because he wears a blue lanyard. My lanyard is kind of tan so the kids don't pay any attention to me!

Good news about your mom! The first times are always a little scary. Good thoughts for her through the weekend

Thanks! I hope whatever side effects she has can be managed with meds!
How are things coming together for your trip?

 

[tinknme]

I don't know about "plenty", but the darn bags are so heavy I don't think we should add any more! DS put his traders on my bathroom scale and it was over 2 pounds. Those Disney Shopping pins are huge, and they are heavy. Also, those sets of "Cars" pins from the Disney Store weigh a TON. I told DH we need to trade those heavy ones first thing each morning so we aren't hunchbacks by lunch!

Now that I think about it, I am not sure where our pins are! Since we remodeled I moved them, hmmm

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Now that I think about it, I am not sure where our pins are! Since we remodeled I moved them, hmmm

ACK! Pin search and rescue at Janet's house! Immediately!

I asked DS if he wants to do autographs this time. He hasn't wanted to do them on the past few trips, and even when he has done autographs he usually only does them the first day or two. He shocked me when he said he wants to bring his autograph book. But I bet when it comes to CARRYING the book he will decide to leave it in the room!

There was one trip where he wore a fanny pack for the first few days - he looked so silly! I am hemming and hawing about giving him my mini-backpack since I have my Baggalini, but I am afraid he would put it down and lose it. He likes to take pictures, but DH would be rather irked if DS lost the Nikon point & shoot so I don't think letting him carry it in a backpack is a good idea. He has a badge holder for his room key and AP, and he can stick his phone in a pocket of his cargo shorts, so he doesn't really NEED a bag or pack. Hmm. More thought needed on this one.

 

[tinknme]

Well Garrett said he does not want to pin trade, but he does want to take his pins So I am sure he will find some that he wants to trade for. Riley loves to trade, so his will be going as well. Now I just need to find them

Riley never has been into getting autographs, but Garrett likes to. He will take his book & get ones that he does not already have. They both use to wear fanny packs, but now they carry their napsacks. Much better & they can haul their own stuff around

What type of baggalini do you have? This is the one I bought in khaki, but I haven't decided if I am going to use it on this trip or not. I am worried that it will make me even hotter.

http://www.bagsbuy.com/baggallini-mes160-messenger-bagg/121602/285133

ACK! Pin search and rescue at Janet's house! Immediately!

I asked DS if he wants to do autographs this time. He hasn't wanted to do them on the past few trips, and even when he has done autographs he usually only does them the first day or two. He shocked me when he said he wants to bring his autograph book. But I bet when it comes to CARRYING the book he will decide to leave it in the room!

There was one trip where he wore a fanny pack for the first few days - he looked so silly! I am hemming and hawing about giving him my mini-backpack since I have my Baggalini, but I am afraid he would put it down and lose it. He likes to take pictures, but DH would be rather irked if DS lost the Nikon point & shoot so I don't think letting him carry it in a backpack is a good idea. He has a badge holder for his room key and AP, and he can stick his phone in a pocket of his cargo shorts, so he doesn't really NEED a bag or pack. Hmm. More thought needed on this one.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

http://www.bagsbuy.com/baggallini-ubc227-urban-backpack/121632/285344

I have this one that I bought at Marshall's. I have a small Adidas backpack that I have used for several trips - I just put one arm through both straps and wear it on my shoulder. I noticed in December that the lining is cracking so I figured I would replace it with the Baggallini. I figured DS could have the backpack but I really am worried about him losing it. So I guess I need to decide - am I more worried about him losing it, or am I more worried about ME being stuck carrying his junk?

DH usually carries DS's junk, but since he will be carrying a camera bag and not a backpack this time I don't know how much room he will have.

 

[tinknme]

Oh I like that one!

http://www.bagsbuy.com/baggallini-ubc227-urban-backpack/121632/285344

I have this one that I bought at Marshall's. I have a small Adidas backpack that I have used for several trips - I just put one arm through both straps and wear it on my shoulder. I noticed in December that the lining is cracking so I figured I would replace it with the Baggallini. I figured DS could have the backpack but I really am worried about him losing it. So I guess I need to decide - am I more worried about him losing it, or am I more worried about ME being stuck carrying his junk?

DH usually carries DS's junk, but since he will be carrying a camera bag and not a backpack this time I don't know how much room he will have.

 

[shannon47142]

I like the bag too!!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Oh I like that one!

I like the bag too!!

Thanks! I guess we'll see how I like it after I have used it in the parks for 16 days!
I bought a Nine West backpack thing when Macy's went out of business, but there are no zippers down the sides. If something is at the bottom it is quite a feat to extract it, not to mention it would be a pain to take through security. I do use it as a purse when I travel to see Mom, but it is not a good WDW bag.
The Baggallini isn't as, something, as the Adidas bag. Wide? Deep? From the front panel to the back panel there isn't as much room. I haven't tried to load all my park gear in there yet, so I may end up sticking with my Adidas bag!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Hmm. It's STILL not August, is it? Sigh.

I put all of my park stuff in my Baggallini last night. It all fits in there, so I guess that's the bag I will use!
DS says he wants to use the Adidas bag. Maybe we should let him use it, but NOT let him carry the Nikon in there.

DH has announced that he needs some sort of remote for the camera. This is really getting out of hand. Really. I am passing the point of mock exasperation and closing in on being genuinely angry. This is RIDICULOUS. I told him we will talk about it.

 

[shannon47142]

A remote for the camera?
The time does seem to be creeping by

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

A remote for the camera?
The time does seem to be creeping by

Yeah. Something to do with it being on the tripod, and he needs a remote to release the shutter or some drivel like that.

I have laid down the law with DS that he is not allowed to purchase or ask for ANYTHING else before the trip. He has been spending his money on toys (2 new toys in the past week) and he has far less saved for this year's trip than he did last year. Since this trip is almost double in length I think he will be rather unhappy when he runs out of money for toys, pins, the arcade, and whatever else he wants at WDW.

I have been pondering the camera remote. I THOUGHT I made it clear to DH after the bag and the tripod that we were FINISHED with the camera accesories. Apparently NOT. The remote isn't even that expensive, I am just sick of the constant requirements of more-more-more camera stuff. We need to go to Target later so I am sure we will end up with a remote. In DH's defense, he does work really hard and he deserves to have a relaxing hobby. In my defense, budgeting for this trip has become really difficult since he keeps springing these things on me, and I handle all of our finances. And he ALWAYS does this. The closer we get, the more stuff he will HAVE to have. Just when I think I have the last few little budget details in place he comes up with MORE stuff and blows my "Misc." category all to heck.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

No remote yet. We did go shopping but we didn't go to a camera store.

When I was getting a shirt out of the closet earlier I pulled out that Crocs backpack. It is so nice! I decided to see if the laptop will fit in it. It DOES! Sooo, I think I might carry the backpack on the plane instead of the laptop case. Also, the backpack doesn't necessarily look like there would be a laptop in it. That could be a good thing.

We drove out to one of the few remaining Disney Stores to load some more money on my gift card. I also bought some Disney Dollars for DS. If he behaves he can have them.

I told DH we need to get the suitcases out tomorrow.

 

[shannon47142]

You sure are getting alot done!! We have to pack of course, but thats it! I guess having a year to plan makes it easier

 

[snappy]

I sure am enjoying living vicariously through your pre-trip report. It is the next best thing to being there.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

You sure are getting alot done!! We have to pack of course, but thats it! I guess having a year to plan makes it easier

Packing is pretty much all that we have left now, too. I need to call our pet sitter to confirm our reservations, but she is good about that.

I sure am enjoying living vicariously through your pre-trip report. It is the next best thing to being there.

I'm afraid this part is pretty boring! But if you can hang in for 12 more days it should get better!

 

[tink2020]

Oh, be honest Elizabeth.... you could change a thing or two, still!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Oh, be honest Elizabeth.... you could change a thing or two, still!

Really? Like what?
I am all about messing with things after they are already finished!

 

[tink2020]

Really? Like what?
I am all about messing with things after they are already finished!

Oh I don't know.... it just seems like there's still time

I hope your headache goes away, and you can enjoy suitcase day!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Suitcase day is off to a slow start.
It began with gathering up the laundry. It seems DH has been stockpiling dirty clothes off in some remote corner of the bedroom, and he decided today would be a good day to drag it all out. Great.

I pulled tags off of three pairs of shorts for DS. I have 8 more pairs with tags still on them, but I want to see if I think he will actually need all of them before I de-tag the rest.

At first I could only locate 11 of my bras, which was a problem since I know I have WAY more than that. There are 6 waiting to be washed, but I know I have more than 17. I finally found 2 gallon Ziplocs full of bras in a drawer. Very good! Now we're rolling!

Unfortunately DH's expedition to recover his laundry left him hungry, so now he is having breakfast instead of getting the suitcases out.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Can I just say how much more complicated laundry becomes when people leave GUM in their POCKETS?
I just put a load of shorts in the dryer. I found 2 gum wrappers at the bottom of the washer. Asked DH if perchance there was gum IN the wrappers when I started the washer. DH attempts to deny any involvement. DH is in BIG trouble, because I found gum in the washer. Luckily I washed the shorts in cold so the gum was still intact. DH got to come sort through the pockets of every pair of shorts in that load before we turned the dryer on. He found at least 2 more pieces of gum that would have melted all over the inside of the dryer. DH is on thin ice today.