We Went to See Mic-key M-o-u-s-e ... Again! - Sept '12 TR [COMPLETE]

[Dancegrl624]

Okay, now that you've mentioned the flip-flop collection, you KNOW you have to post it in your PTR! You can't tease a fellow shoe fanatic like that!

I have tons of flip-flops, also - bought the Reefs specifically for the WDW trip. If I walk too long in them, though, my calves end up hurting, so what I do is just switch back and forth throughout the day. Yep, I'm the one you're behind in line who has the gym shoes hanging out of her backpack!

I will definately take a picture and post it on my PTR. I love my flip flops!!!

I love my running sneakers! The rest of my family needs stability sneakers, but not me. Mine are light as air! They're New Balance and they're a really cool purple with bright coral. They had me try on quite a few pairs and then go run on the sidewalk in them. Do you have a Fleet Feet near you? That's where I go and they also have running groups. I know they're all over the country. They really know what they're doing!

YAY for Mickey Mail!!! I should have mine soon. My boss left for a Disney cruise last Saturday and then he'll be at our summit this weekend. I'm hoping that my Mickey Mail will be waiting at his house when he gets home and then he'll send it out to me. Hooray!

 

[shalom]

We have a bike/running trail about 2 miles from home. There's a running store closeby that is always busy no matter what time of year. That's the one I chose. I figure they must be doing something right to be so busy year-round, KWIM?

No nearby stores but I suppose I could ask the guys who run on the riverside trail near us. I don't know any runners -- all I know are bikers and walkers (and some former speed-walkers). Clearly we're hanging out with the wrong crowd.

 

[Nemo32]

YAY for Mickey Mail!!! Never feels real until you have it.

 

[BearcatsFan]

Yay for Mickey Mail!! That's always one of the best parts of the trip!! Waiting for the mail from Disney!! LOL!!

That is too funny about the papers disappearing. We ladies can only have so much self restraint before we have to start peeking. LOL!!

I was so thrilled to be able to get the Mickey Mail this early this time! I don't even think we were to the car before I started tearing into the envelope!

I'm joining late, but I'm here! Great PTR - sounds like you are having so much fun planning, changing, replanning, and just getting into the all-around spirit of Disney!
We'll be there just before you, and actually just found out last week that we would for sure be going (AHHH!), so I don't have the luxury of getting to tweak and perfect all my plans - we'll just have to stick with whatever I can throw together at this point in the game! But, hey, it's still Disney, so it will still be magical!

Hope you guys have a great trip! And I can't wait to hear about the "suprise" your hubby is planning. Keep us updated on any new clues

I just got caught up reading your PTR and I'm loving it! Thank you for reading - I hope you all have a great trip, also! I actually have an update about a little snafu in the surprise below ...

I will definately take a picture and post it on my PTR. I love my flip flops!!!

I love my running sneakers! The rest of my family needs stability sneakers, but not me. Mine are light as air! They're New Balance and they're a really cool purple with bright coral. They had me try on quite a few pairs and then go run on the sidewalk in them. Do you have a Fleet Feet near you? That's where I go and they also have running groups. I know they're all over the country. They really know what they're doing!

YAY for Mickey Mail!!! I should have mine soon. My boss left for a Disney cruise last Saturday and then he'll be at our summit this weekend. I'm hoping that my Mickey Mail will be waiting at his house when he gets home and then he'll send it out to me. Hooray!

I'll be waiting for that pic of your flip-flops. I'm such a shoe girl - DH compares me to Imelda Marcos and won't let me buy any more shoes until I get rid of a pair. He thinks that's a fair trade - he doesn't understand how much I love them! He also doesn't get why I need so many pairs of black ones, but that's another discussion entirely ...

Hope your agency trip is going well!

No nearby stores but I suppose I could ask the guys who run on the riverside trail near us. I don't know any runners -- all I know are bikers and walkers (and some former speed-walkers). Clearly we're hanging out with the wrong crowd.

I would think asking any of them would net good answers. Goodness knows I'll mostly be using my shoes for walking. I have tried to jog but my calves always protest way too much. The shoe people said that could be a result of the wrong shoes, too ... maybe I'll try again.

YAY for Mickey Mail!!! Never feels real until you have it.

Glad to see you had a safe trip! Can't wait to read the details in your TR!

 

[BearcatsFan]

Let me begin at the beginning .........

My BIL has known since February we were coming to Florida sometime in the Fall. We let him know it would be September as soon as we decided on dates. We're going to be staying two days with him and his girlfriend, who is very sweet.

Last year, we spent a couple of days with our niece (BIL's daughter) and her family. Had a great time there, too. Took some gifts for their girls, lots of fun, etc.

Fast forward to present day. I called our niece yesterday for general conversation and to see what the girls were into now so I could pick up a couple things for them to bring with us. She's talking about life in general ... we both ramble on for a while ... and then I realize ... she has NO IDEA we're going to be in town in a few weeks.

Finally, I ask her if she's talked to her dad. Of course she has, why? Uhhhh ... did he happen to mention that we're coming down there?

She was SHOCKED! She hadn't heard a thing about it - he hasn't mentioned it at all! She's wondering ...... IF HE FORGOT.

Immediately, she goes into planning mode. Do we need picked up from the airport, how long are we staying, are we staying with her at all, what's our itinerary like, blahblahblah. You know what's coming, right?

She wants to drive out to WDW and have dinner with us. That, in itself, is great! She and her hubby are fun to be around and we do like spending time with them and their kids. Only seeing each other once a year (sometimes less), we want to make time for family. Yes, I actually like my in-laws!

Here's the problem. Pretty much the only two days we can free up are Monday (our first day there, we'll just have been with them all weekend) ... or Wednesday. Surprise Day.

DH is sitting nearby while I'm having this conversation, listening intently. I am literally watching the sweat bead on his forehead while I'm talking to her. His eyes grow large. I tell her I'll let her know what day works out best for us and get back to her soon. I hang up the phone and DH is all over me, wanting to know exactly what's going on.

I explain the situation, and the man RUNS into the other room and grabs ... the paperwork. Guess what? According to him, NEITHER DAY will work! Now what? Uhhh well, I tell him, we need to figure something out. You know how much fun we have with them and they're willing to drive almost an hour just to have dinner with us - to me, that speaks volumes. We have relatives that live 5 minutes from our house that never stop by, KWIM? We need to take into consideration that they're willing to go this far out of their way just to spend some extra time with us.

He gets quiet and appears to be staring off into space for a minute. Finally, he says, "Don't talk to me for a few ... I have to figure this out in my head."

After about 20 minutes of intense studying of the papers, he finally says, "Wednesday. Wednesday is best. Cancel Grand Floridian Cafe and tell them we can do dinner on Wednesday. Yeah, Wednesday. I can make that work."



So now I'm even more confused about the surprise than I was before. It's obviously something that can be easily rearranged or done somewhere else, and it's probably not going to be anything in the room from the Disney Florist or the day wouldn't matter at all, right?

Once again, the plot thickens!

So as of this morning, I've cancelled Grand Floridian Cafe for dinner on 09/19 and scheduled a 10 a.m. breakfast at Kona Cafe for that morning instead. Who knows where we'll end up for dinner ...

More updates in the next post, including shoes (I bought some)!

 

[BearcatsFan]

*whew* I'm telling you what, the next time I do a PTR, I think I'm going to wait until 5 days before to start it!

This is just a quick update on everything I got accomplished this weekend!

Drag out luggage - CHECK!
Clean out/off luggage from last trip - CHECK!
Fill bags with band-aids, toiletries, and other essentials - CHECK!
Start filling travel Space Bags - CHECK!
Pick up Mickey Mail - CHECK!
Check with neighbor about watching cat - she will! - CHECK!
Buy new gym shoes - CHECK!
Tear out half my hair with the latest round of changes - CHECK!

Here's a couple of shots of my new shoes. I decided to go with Brooks Dyad 7. Soooo comfy! Ignore all the stuff on the bed - this is pre-Space Bag filling ...

Aren't they cute? I hope they work out as well as the shoe people think they will. If not, they have a very good return policy. In fact, the return policy was one of the first things I asked about, considering my shoe graveyard in the back of the spare bedroom closet.

26 days until vacation, 28 days until WDW!

 

[lurkernj]

Wow, I'm a little behind!! You have been a busy bee both on your PTR and in real life!!

I love your new sneakers!! Congrats!

And your Mickey Mail!!!! That's awesome! I keep checking my mailbox in anticipation, I feel like Ralphie in "A Christmas Story" waiting for his little orphan annie secret decoder pin. I don't think I'd be able to wait and would have to call out from work to go get it from the travel agent. It MUST be in my hands.

I am very intrigued by your husbands surprise(s). That's cute that he's putting so much thought into it.

I know how difficult it can be trying to squeeze in a visit with someone down there. They think you can just randomly pick a night, but with the whole ADR thing and trying to squeeze in the nighttime entertainment, it's tough!! We usually visit with a friend down there when we go, and I'm secretly hoping DH doesn't follow through with calling them.

 

[CatNipRules]

Okay, now I'm intrigued by what your husband has planned.

Love the new shoes. They look like they are very comfortable!

I definitely know what you mean about family being close by and not visiting. When my BIL lived here he never came to visit, but I have family that's driven hours to visit me.

 

[Fratthouse]

Man the suspense is really thickening on this surprise from DH! You know this means you are going to have to do a TR to reveal what it is!!!

 

[Fratthouse]

And I love the shoes! This has inspired me to go by myself a new pair before our trip! That's the great thing about reading everyone's PTR's - how else would I know all the stuff I need before going on a Disney Trip? I totally would have forgotten about new walking shoes!!

 

[shalom]

I'm intrigued by your husband's surprise as well.

Those shoes are cool! I'm loving the green laces. Not ignoring the stuff on the bed, and thinking they'll compliment those colors nicely.

 

[BearcatsFan]

Wow, I'm a little behind!! You have been a busy bee both on your PTR and in real life!!

I love your new sneakers!! Congrats!

And your Mickey Mail!!!! That's awesome! I keep checking my mailbox in anticipation, I feel like Ralphie in "A Christmas Story" waiting for his little orphan annie secret decoder pin. I don't think I'd be able to wait and would have to call out from work to go get it from the travel agent. It MUST be in my hands.

I am very intrigued by your husbands surprise(s). That's cute that he's putting so much thought into it.

I know how difficult it can be trying to squeeze in a visit with someone down there. They think you can just randomly pick a night, but with the whole ADR thing and trying to squeeze in the nighttime entertainment, it's tough!! We usually visit with a friend down there when we go, and I'm secretly hoping DH doesn't follow through with calling them.

Thank you - I love the shoes, too! You should be getting your Mickey Mail any day now. Did you get the notification on the WDW site about online check-in yet?

I could have written your entire last paragraph (except about the not calling part). Being that they live down there, they have no clue how much the ADR thing has changed vacationing in general because they can go whenever they want to. We love being with them, they're great fun, I just hope Wednesday works out because it's really the only evening we have free.

Okay, now I'm intrigued by what your husband has planned.

Love the new shoes. They look like they are very comfortable!

I definitely know what you mean about family being close by and not visiting. When my BIL lived here he never came to visit, but I have family that's driven hours to visit me.

Thank you - they are extremely comfy! I would recommend these to anyone looking for a more supportive shoe.

My own brother drives by my house twice every weekend and doesn't stop in. It used to bother me, but not anymore. I just consider the source and move on, KWIM?

Man the suspense is really thickening on this surprise from DH! You know this means you are going to have to do a TR to reveal what it is!!!

And I love the shoes! This has inspired me to go by myself a new pair before our trip! That's the great thing about reading everyone's PTR's - how else would I know all the stuff I need before going on a Disney Trip? I totally would have forgotten about new walking shoes!!

Oh this will definitely be continued on as a TR once we are back from WDW - I already was planning on that!

You're going sooooo soon - if you get new shoes, get to breaking those things in pronto!

I'm intrigued by your husband's surprise as well.

Those shoes are cool! I'm loving the green laces. Not ignoring the stuff on the bed, and thinking they'll compliment those colors nicely.

Thank you! I love the way they look, too. Don't really have any clothing they will "go with" but at some point I guess I have to not worry about looks and focus on comfort.

 

[BearcatsFan]

Since there are so many comments on the shoes, I'm happy to report that they are as comfy as they are cute. I got back to walking on the treadmill yesterday, and just for fun, decided to jog for a couple of minutes. What a difference between these shoes and the others - these clearly are meant for support where the others were not. So I guess now I have no excuses not to try jogging again on a regular basis.

Again, don't get all excited when I say "jogging". It isn't a marathon-world-record-breaking speed by any stretch of the imagination. More like a purposeful lifting and shuffling the feet for a minute or two. Still, though, it's faster than a walk, so I'm counting it!

Guess what dumb thing I did yesterday? I was getting myself a snack after my workout, leaned over to throw something away ... and stood right up and hit my temple into the corner of the kitchen cabinet door. Everything went black for a split second. I went and looked - I scratched it up pretty good, but no blood, thank goodness. I was feeling a bit woozy, so I sat in the livingroom for a good while ... and called my DH to let him know what had happened. At least that way, if he came home and found me passed out on the couch with a plate of apple chunks on my lap, he'd know why!

I'm just hanging out today, waiting to see if both eyes will be black or only the one. My left one started getting dark last night, and that side of my face still hurts this morning. I have not one, but TWO doctor's appointments tomorrow (unrelated to the head-bump, just to clarify). I know they're both going to ask if DH beat me up! Good times!

I did a little bit more packing yesterday, but didn't get done nearly as much as I wanted to. My head was hurting like crazy and bending over to pick stuff up just wasn't happening. Oh well.

25 days until vacation, 27 days until WDW!

 

[Dancegrl624]

Love the running shoes! All of my family members wear Brooks and they really like them. The color is great too....comfy and cute!

So sorry to hear about your head! I was injuring myself (minor) all over the place before I left this weekend. Scratched my arm on the corner of the medicine cabinet mirror, scratched myself on my wrist with my too sharp nail (cut my nails immediately after that happened)....crazy!

 

[shalom]

Guess what dumb thing I did yesterday? I was getting myself a snack after my workout, leaned over to throw something away ... and stood right up and hit my temple into the corner of the kitchen cabinet door. Everything went black for a split second. I went and looked - I scratched it up pretty good, but no blood, thank goodness.

Glad you're okay! And don't feel bad -- I knocked myself out once opening our front door into my head.

 

[lurkernj]

Thank you - I love the shoes, too! You should be getting your Mickey Mail any day now. Did you get the notification on the WDW site about online check-in yet?

I could have written your entire last paragraph (except about the not calling part). Being that they live down there, they have no clue how much the ADR thing has changed vacationing in general because they can go whenever they want to. We love being with them, they're great fun, I just hope Wednesday works out because it's really the only evening we have free.

:

No notification about on-line check in yet. I'm really torn about whether or not I will do it. I'm really going to try to resist, as it hasn't been advantageous the last two times.

Yeah, I guess that part didn't come out right about hoping he doesn't call her It used to be her, her husband, and their two daughters who are around my boys ages, and she'd pick us up and we'd hang at her house swimming, bbq'ing etc. She's now divorced and one kid is in college, so it would just be her and her younger daughter. I already told Dh I didn't want to hang out at her house all day, since he and the boys only have 4.5 Disney days (and I feel like it would be awkward without her husband and other daughter), I didn't want to give up a whole day, so I'm hoping to just have her and her daughter (and maybe her parents) meet us for dinner, then we only lose .5 Disney day. He actually said the other day he didn't know if he was going to call her since they haven't spoken in over a year. I'll leave the ball in his court, but would like an answer at least two weeks before we go so I can plan which ADR we will make.


So glad your shoes are working out! It really does make a difference, somedays I feel like Forest Gump and I just wanna keep running and running.

That stinks that you hurt your head. I hope you don't end up with two black eyes, that's always fun to explain, and you get those "knowing" looks like "uhh huhh"

 

[BearcatsFan]

Love the running shoes! All of my family members wear Brooks and they really like them. The color is great too....comfy and cute!

So sorry to hear about your head! I was injuring myself (minor) all over the place before I left this weekend. Scratched my arm on the corner of the medicine cabinet mirror, scratched myself on my wrist with my too sharp nail (cut my nails immediately after that happened)....crazy!

Oh my goodness! Thank goodness it was nothing major, huh? Sounds like me - I'm such a klutz - always tripping over something (mostly my own feet).

Glad you're okay! And don't feel bad -- I knocked myself out once opening our front door into my head.

YIKES! How awful!

No notification about on-line check in yet. I'm really torn about whether or not I will do it. I'm really going to try to resist, as it hasn't been advantageous the last two times.

Yeah, I guess that part didn't come out right about hoping he doesn't call her It used to be her, her husband, and their two daughters who are around my boys ages, and she'd pick us up and we'd hang at her house swimming, bbq'ing etc. She's now divorced and one kid is in college, so it would just be her and her younger daughter. I already told Dh I didn't want to hang out at her house all day, since he and the boys only have 4.5 Disney days (and I feel like it would be awkward without her husband and other daughter), I didn't want to give up a whole day, so I'm hoping to just have her and her daughter (and maybe her parents) meet us for dinner, then we only lose .5 Disney day. He actually said the other day he didn't know if he was going to call her since they haven't spoken in over a year. I'll leave the ball in his court, but would like an answer at least two weeks before we go so I can plan which ADR we will make.


So glad your shoes are working out! It really does make a difference, somedays I feel like Forest Gump and I just wanna keep running and running.

That stinks that you hurt your head. I hope you don't end up with two black eyes, that's always fun to explain, and you get those "knowing" looks like "uhh huhh"

No, I totally got what you meant about calling. Only for us it isn't as easy, because it's family, KWIM? Can you imagine the stink that would be raised if we were in town and didn't call?

Nope, I only ended up with one shiner on the side I hit on the door. You should have seen how the mammogram ladies looked at me this morning. I quickly reassured them there was nothing wonky going on at home.

 

[CatNipRules]

Oh no!! I'm glad that you're okay!! I'm such a klutz that one day I was going to sit down in my chair and work and missed the chair and ended up on the floor. Thank goodness no one else was around. I would have been mortified.

 

[BearcatsFan]

Oh no!! I'm glad that you're okay!! I'm such a klutz that one day I was going to sit down in my chair and work and missed the chair and ended up on the floor. Thank goodness no one else was around. I would have been mortified.

Thank you! I hope you didn't hurt yourself when you did that - falls onto the floor are no fun whatsoever!

DH still can't believe I came on here and posted about what I did - I told him yeah it's embarassing, but maybe someone else will think about it when they leave their cabinet doors open next time.

 

[BearcatsFan]

After much thought, discussion, and consideration ... we know what we are wearing to MNSSHP. FINALLY! We've been through literally dozens of ideas. Hippies. Greasers. Mouseketeers. Doc & nurse - that went further than the idea stage, obviously.

They're very simple and not really a "costume" per se. Just t-shirts and some face paint. We were lucky enough to find my t-shirt in the right size, but his had to be ordered. Once we have everything together, I'll post in more detail with some pics.

The walking/jogging has been going well. I haven't updated my "Getting Into Disney Shape" post in a few days, but I have been exercising. I've decided once we get back that I'm going to start training for a 5K using the Galloway method. I think it will work best for me. The running store where I purchased my shoes has a Sit-to-Fit program, but I can get Galloway's online for free and have my own treadmill soooo ..

In other exercise-related news, we picked up some paperwork yesterday for a 2.5 mile charity hike benefiting Hospice that we'll be doing a couple of weeks after we get home. It isn't timed or anything, but I figure if I can get through Disney for days on end walking for fun, that certainly I can walk a couple more hours to raise money for what I consider to be a worthwhile charity.

Had a little freakout this morning because I somehow misplaced my Mickey Mail. I've looked everywhere. I know it didn't grow legs and walk out of here, it's just a matter of finding it. The spare bed is still covered with stuff - chances are, it's laying on the bottom of one of those piles. I'm telling you, this is the MOST unorganized I've ever been for a trip. And it isn't like it was a last-second thing, either ... I've had months to get things together. Perhaps that's the issue ... If so, then I'm in trouble because the next trip I'm planning I'll have 2 full years to gather and pile.

Going shopping tonight to hopefully finish up purchasing clothes. Around here, they start pulling up all the Summer stuff and putting out Winter stuff in July, so things should be nice and discounted by now. What they have left, that is. I looked at Macy's yesterday and couldn't find a single thing. Same at Dillard's. Gonna try Kohl's today. Keep your fingers crossed!

All the worry about "Surprise Day" is no more, and nobody is more relieved than my hubby! Got an email back from our niece - turns out they can't do anything on a weeknight because of school and work. Unfortunate, because we do like spending time with them. We are in the process of making plans to meet them on our way out of town for breakfast, though, which will be nice and work out better for all. I was hating the thought of leaving town without seeing them one last time since it will be two years before we get back there.

NOW ... we have Wednesday, all day, free again! Luckily, I was able to re-book Grand Floridian Cafe for the same time I had planned on originally! Still gonna keep that Kona Cafe ADR for breakfast, though ... we'll just pay for it OOP. The remainder of the day is still a mystery ....

Well jeeze, this turned out to be a lot longer than I originally planned. I'll end this ramblefest by saying .........

23 days until vacation, 25 days until WDW!