Weird and Ninja’s Pre-Disneymoon [Completed!]

[Jennifer48]

I *heart* Earl of Sandwich! I'm so hungry right now!

Be careful at Mickey's Pantry. The trip DH & I took when we got engaged, I bought a lot of things from there for our kitchen.

 

[Cat0727]

Lol Rachel you're so funny with the egg rings! I love the shopping pictures you took. I want to buy everything in them. Good thing I'm browsing from home

 

[floridascgirl]

Hey Rachel! I've been so busy lately that I'm all behind reading my favorite PTR's and TR's. I feels so out of touch. This latest update was perfect for me because we have plans to try the Earl and visit Mickey's Pantry (1st for both) in February. Thanks for all of your photos and your funny observations.

 

[RachelNinja]

hahaha, yes, you are right, we are the ones that got those popcorn buckets!!! Well, technically my dad got them. I was even going to say, before I read your comment, HEY, those are the buckets we got! Good memory.

Mmmm, yummy, I love Earl of Sandwich. Sandwiches are kind of my life too.

Woohoo! My memory's working properly! Haha, they'll now be called "Sarah's buckets" or "Sarah's dad's buckets"!

It's hilarious because I can go to a restaurant and order the sandwich version of something just because it's between two pieces of bread but not want to order the dish without the bread. I mean, fish? Better between bread. Meatloaf? Better between bread. Grilled chicken? Better between bread!

Oh, I love Mickey's Pantry. I think if there were more of those stores around near me, my whole kitchen (once we ever renovate it) would be full of cute mickey stuff. Such a cute store!

I totally forgot that you won't be on the DDP. I think that's how we have been able to try so many different Disney restaurants. Otherwise it gets pricey! Ohana with a big group of friends will be awesome for dinner. Lot's of family style eating to go around!

I love it because it's all USEFUL things! As much as I love World of Disney and all the other stores, I don't know that I'd get use of everything that they sell there.

Yeah, DDP isn't going to make sense for us because even if we did stay on Disney property, we won't be able to eat that much. Being on a schedule like that doesn't seem like it'll work very well either. If we're hungry, we'll eat. We'll see how it goes with the 2 ADRs that we do have!

I'm really looking forward to 'Ohana now that there are 2 more people going!

Those rings are so cute!! I can't believe you haven't used them yet! I keep bugging DBF that we need a new hand mixer (we somehow lost one of the beaters) and he keeps saying the minute we buy one is the minute I'll stop wanting to make homemade frosting Have you used your toast press?

Haha, I just have to wash them and be willing to take the time to do it. It'd probably be easier to do it with a funnel or something because the ladle we use for pancakes is rather big. Nope, I haven't used my toast press either!!!

I *heart* Earl of Sandwich! I'm so hungry right now!

Be careful at Mickey's Pantry. The trip DH & I took when we got engaged, I bought a lot of things from there for our kitchen.

What sandwich do you like at Earl? I don't know if I'll ever try anything new!

Haha, thanks for the warning! It's definitely a place that we could do a lot of damage even though the store itself is so small in size!

Lol Rachel you're so funny with the egg rings! I love the shopping pictures you took. I want to buy everything in them. Good thing I'm browsing from home

I'm still browsing even though they're "my" pictures! It does make me feel better to take pics of everything. I'm sure we would've taken more, but there were people around and my family was waiting. I'll definitely take more merchandise pics in February!

Hey Rachel! I've been so busy lately that I'm all behind reading my favorite PTR's and TR's. I feels so out of touch. This latest update was perfect for me because we have plans to try the Earl and visit Mickey's Pantry (1st for both) in February. Thanks for all of your photos and your funny observations.

Awww, it's okay. I haven't really been writing faithfully. I just realized that my next trip is coming up soon, so I had better get a move on with this one! Plus, I was getting a little tired being in Epcot for so long!

Ooo, can't wait for you to try Earl and visit Mickey's Pantry! I'm sure it'll be so much fun!

 

[therussells08]

Okay, I'm caught up on all of the fabulous updates I've missed!

I always get a little bit creeped out on SE too, and I've never even read the KK books! There is just something about those animatronics...

I think you handled the situation with the rude CM very well. "Kill 'em with kindness" is always my philosophy when dealing with anyone rude. Well, usually. Sometimes that is easier said that done!

That Target looked amazing! The Targets around here are all normal sized. They sell a few groceries, but no fresh fruit or veggies. I really like Target, though. I feel like you can find things there that you can't find at Wal Mart or K Mart.

Yummy...that EoS looks so delicious! I have only eaten there once but I loved it! If our DtD day wasn't so packed with ADRs already for December we would definitely be eating there!

I love your souvenirs you chose! Mickey pancakes and toast sound like a very fun breakfast!!

 

[RachelNinja]

Okay, I'm caught up on all of the fabulous updates I've missed!

I always get a little bit creeped out on SE too, and I've never even read the KK books! There is just something about those animatronics...

I think you handled the situation with the rude CM very well. "Kill 'em with kindness" is always my philosophy when dealing with anyone rude. Well, usually. Sometimes that is easier said that done!

That Target looked amazing! The Targets around here are all normal sized. They sell a few groceries, but no fresh fruit or veggies. I really like Target, though. I feel like you can find things there that you can't find at Wal Mart or K Mart.

Yummy...that EoS looks so delicious! I have only eaten there once but I loved it! If our DtD day wasn't so packed with ADRs already for December we would definitely be eating there!

I love your souvenirs you chose! Mickey pancakes and toast sound like a very fun breakfast!!

Yay! I'm glad you're all caught up! I'm going to try to get more updates done on a regular basis because I would rather not have 2 trip reports going at the same time! I think I'd start to get confused.

Haha, so I'm not the only one! I mean, there are a TON of animatronics. It's not just a few. There are a TON and they could so easily band together! Plus, we're just so close to them ... I'm surprised I didn't have issues when I was younger.

I like that! "Kill 'em with kindness." I try to follow that all the time when I'm speaking with my students' parents. I don't think they're that rude, but I think being nice makes it a lot easier for me because they feel like they can't yell at me!

Yeah, we have a Target with frozen food, but we don't have it with fresh food! It's exciting because that means Target and Publix are going to have to compete for lower prices, which is better for us!

You should get EoS to bring on the way back home! That's what we're planning on doing too. Even though it won't be AS good because it's not fresh, it's still something that's so easily portable. I'm sure by then, we won't want to spend more money on Amtrak meals!

If only I would use those things to make a fun breakfast ... haha.

 

[RachelNinja]

Tuesday, April 6: Christmas in April

In April, I was very determined to enjoy many of the stores I've never entered in my entire life! One of those was the Days of Christmas. I thought about how fun it would be to buy an ornament on each trip as I know many DISers do, but in the end, I knew it'd be a waste of money for me. I'd rather spend all my money at Mickey's Pantry!

There were, however, very cute things! I still haven't seen Nightmare Before Christmas. I will eventually! My cousin Dani LOVES the movie and Jack Skellington!

These round Mickeys were more my style!

Don't you love this picture that Weird took? I like that you can see the atmosphere of the store.

The worst thing about that store is the Santa head! Um, why is it there? It really freaked me out, and I couldn't walk in front of it.

Look at these guys!

What odd colors! So fluffy!

This throw was the other gift thing that you could purchase if you spent a certain amount of money. I thought the huge duffel bag was better! I didn't have a need for a blanket because I have a ton of fleece blankets at home. I do wish I had a blanket for the Amtrak ride in February though! Oh well.

Weird and I both very much liked this stocking! It's so cute and creative for Mickey to be holding his Sorcerer hat. We both really love the Sorcerer Mickey hat too because of VMK.

Cute Christmas tree! I didn't check the price on it, but this would be the kind of tree that could fit in our future teeny tiny apartment!

As we traveled through the store, we saw that there was a section or another separate store dedicated to Jack Skellington!

Whoa, that's a lot of movie specific merchandise especially because it's not a current movie.

The creepiest thing is the tall, almost human-sized Jack!

When we left the store, I found the thing I was hoping to find but wasn't sure if it'd be there in April! Haha, perfect for our Christmas cards even though we're not married yet, and we probably won't ever send Christmas cards with a picture of us on it. It makes sense that this would always be around if the store itself is always there year round. We had to ask another family if they could take it for us. The grandpa did, and when we asked if they needed us to take one of them, the grandpa said, "Thanks, but it's okay. That's what I'm here for!"

Hmm, where to next?

 

[klacey1]

I love the Christmas store!! I toyed with the idea of an ornament every trip, too, but we're just not huge souvenir people. It is a nice idea, though!
The picture of you guys by the "happy holidays" post is so cute!

 

[LilAnn]

Oh, another great update because I absolutely love the Christmas store! Plus I have already been excited about the holidays coming up. I love decorating for the holidays!

We are one of those people that always grab an ornament. But then again, we started the tradition on our honeymoon. From that point on, any vacation we took together, we always try to get an ornament. I just like when the Christmas trees at home look more "homey" and like they have meaning, instead of a cookie cutter matchy-matchy tree. Not that I don't think those aren't pretty because one of my close friends does that with her tree and it's always gorgeous.

You're on a roll with the updates!

 

[RachelNinja]

I love the Christmas store!! I toyed with the idea of an ornament every trip, too, but we're just not huge souvenir people. It is a nice idea, though!
The picture of you guys by the "happy holidays" post is so cute!

I think reading about the ornament thing on DIS made me want to do it. I'd rather get something that could be displayed all year round. Strangely, the ornament that I do want to purchase from Disney is the pickle ornament from Germany!

Oh, another great update because I absolutely love the Christmas store! Plus I have already been excited about the holidays coming up. I love decorating for the holidays!

We are one of those people that always grab an ornament. But then again, we started the tradition on our honeymoon. From that point on, any vacation we took together, we always try to get an ornament. I just like when the Christmas trees at home look more "homey" and like they have meaning, instead of a cookie cutter matchy-matchy tree. Not that I don't think those aren't pretty because one of my close friends does that with her tree and it's always gorgeous.

You're on a roll with the updates!

I think I'd be more excited about the Christmas store if the Santa head weren't in there just staring at me and judging me with his eyes. Creepy!

How do you choose your ornament? Do you and DH pick it out? Does DD have a say in it? I think it'd be more fun if/when Weird and I have a family or at least when we're married. Right now, we'd be buying it and just saving it. We don't even know if we'll be able to have a Christmas tree!

I'm trying to get through it! I guess the DTD stuff is easier to go through because it's just mainly pictures. Not much happened in terms of things that require story-telling. I wonder how long this roll will last!

 

[RachelNinja]

Tuesday, April 6: The Lure of Creativity

Another store that I had never been in before was Disney Design-a-Tee. Of course, this was still fairly new, so it made sense that I had never seen it before. However, I was excited to see the set-up. Have you ever thought about what kind of work goes into designing a store's sign or logo?

I also couldn't resist sticking my face in the tee-shirt hole!

At the moment, there were people at every single terminal, so we didn't really have a chance to look. I think after a bit, one freed up, but there were so many things to choose from that I understood why people were standing there for so long! We decided to just step away since we knew we weren't going to make one anyway.

We moved on through the stores and glanced at the hats that could be made. Then I saw this in the Wonderful World of Memories! Of course, back then Weird and I weren't even engaged so that was really jumping the gun!

I wouldn't really buy something like that though. I would, however, buy this castle punch! I love making greeting cards with rubber stamps. I've invested a ton of money on the mounted stamps and now clear stamps. I have an embossing heating tool with a bunch of different powders. I have the proper markers and particular scissors. I have cutting mats and razors. I have the Fiskars rounded cutter thing. I have an eyelet tool. Haha, basically I have a ton of stuff but no time to make anything anymore. But that doesn't stop me from looking at these castle punches! I almost bought it but didn't. Then later on, I was wishing I did!

Another item that I almost bought was one of these pens. I think it'd make work much more interesting!

I was walking around the store as Weird was taking a picture of this snow globe.

I was wondering what was taking so long. I realized he was shaking the snow globe so he could get a pic in "action." While he was doing this, two kids stopped and were watching him. Haha. You can see one of them in the background.

Whereas I wanted one of the wacky pens, Weird wanted a fancy one. That is, he wanted it until he saw the prices! I don't remember what it was, but it was crazy expensive. I thought I could buy one for him as a gift, but I couldn't see myself dropping that much money on just a pen.

We glanced at the books they offered. I would've liked to flip through more of them to see which ones were good. From what I remember, we flipped through Alchemy of Animation, and Weird really liked it. When we came home, I ordered it and had it sent to his house as a surprise. We like those random gifts a lot better than birthday and Christmas gifts. Sometimes we don't even get gifts for each other one those days (we go out for a birthday dinner though).

We then made our way into The Art of Disney. It's nice that all the stores were connected because I can see how this is better in extremely hot weather! However, that's going to be the next update because up until this point, all the pictures have been from Weird's camera. Now I have to sort through both of ours! So until then!!!

 

[LilAnn]

Looks like you got in some fun window shopping at DTD. There is always so much to look at and tempting you to buy!

In terms of our vacation ornament, it's was mostly just DH and I for a while since DD is so young. However, every year at Christmas time now she gets to pick her own ornament (DH picked a "Baby's First Christmas" minnie ornament when we went and I was pregnant one year). Coincidentally, she tends to pick the Disney ones! Plus my best friend and I have a tradition of exchanging ornaments every year since we were college roommates so my tree is almost now at the point that I have a lot of "symbolic" ornaments. I love it!

 

[floridascgirl]

I'm lovin' that Sorcerer Mickey stocking, too!

 

[therussells08]

I love your idea of getting EoS for the ride home! Can you use DDP credits there? If you can that would be perfect, because I'm sure we will have some credits left over from the DxDP that we need to use up!

Okay now on to commenting on your posts:

I absolutely LOVE the Christmas store! John and I bought a few ornaments there when we were on our honeymoon, but they are both too heavy to hang on our little fake Christmas tree! But I still love them, because one says Our Honeymoon and has the Mickey and Minnie wedding ears on it!

Speaking of those wedding ears, I used to have that antennae topper that you are holding in the picture! I had a lot of fun buying souvenirs on our Disneymoon. I left that thing on my car until it was so weathered that you couldn't even tell what it was anymore!

Come to think of it, you and Weird took a lot of pictures of souvenirs I have bought at Disney in the past! I had that antennae topper, and the last time DH and I went I bought my mom one of those snowglobes with Tinkerbell inside and I got myself one of the pens shaped like Pluto! That is really cool!

I think that trying to create one of those Design-A-Tee shirts would just stress me out. I'm not the best decision maker in the world, and a since the store is so crowded I would probably get nervous having people breathing down my neck and end up making a hasty decision that I would regret later! I think I better just avoid that place altogether in December!

 

[Cat0727]

I lovee the Christmas shop! It's a tradition for us to buy an ornament from there each trip. I always make sure to use my Disney Visa in the DTD shops, I think you get a discount in a couple of stores besides the World of Disney store.

 

[RachelNinja]

Looks like you got in some fun window shopping at DTD. There is always so much to look at and tempting you to buy!

In terms of our vacation ornament, it's was mostly just DH and I for a while since DD is so young. However, every year at Christmas time now she gets to pick her own ornament (DH picked a "Baby's First Christmas" minnie ornament when we went and I was pregnant one year). Coincidentally, she tends to pick the Disney ones! Plus my best friend and I have a tradition of exchanging ornaments every year since we were college roommates so my tree is almost now at the point that I have a lot of "symbolic" ornaments. I love it!

Definitely! I mean, you save up all your money for the trip because of the "getting there" aspect, the resort, and the meals. Then you have to save separate money for souvenirs too! Haha, this isn't even all the window shopping we did! We still have a few more stores to go through!

Our Christmas tree has a lot of "symbolic" ornaments on it too, but a lot of them are symbolic to my mom, of course. I guess it'll be much different when I have my own tree!

I'm lovin' that Sorcerer Mickey stocking, too!

Isn't it so clever?!? Love it! I think it'd be a cute thing for Weird and me to have in our teeny-tiny apartment.

I love your idea of getting EoS for the ride home! Can you use DDP credits there? If you can that would be perfect, because I'm sure we will have some credits left over from the DxDP that we need to use up!

Okay now on to commenting on your posts:

I absolutely LOVE the Christmas store! John and I bought a few ornaments there when we were on our honeymoon, but they are both too heavy to hang on our little fake Christmas tree! But I still love them, because one says Our Honeymoon and has the Mickey and Minnie wedding ears on it!

Speaking of those wedding ears, I used to have that antennae topper that you are holding in the picture! I had a lot of fun buying souvenirs on our Disneymoon. I left that thing on my car until it was so weathered that you couldn't even tell what it was anymore!

Come to think of it, you and Weird took a lot of pictures of souvenirs I have bought at Disney in the past! I had that antennae topper, and the last time DH and I went I bought my mom one of those snowglobes with Tinkerbell inside and I got myself one of the pens shaped like Pluto! That is really cool!

I think that trying to create one of those Design-A-Tee shirts would just stress me out. I'm not the best decision maker in the world, and a since the store is so crowded I would probably get nervous having people breathing down my neck and end up making a hasty decision that I would regret later! I think I better just avoid that place altogether in December!

YES, EoS is on the DDP! It'll be a great way to spend remaining CS credits that you might have because it's portable. I'm glad we've already planned that we're getting it again because we'll need something to look forward to in terms of having to LEAVE on that Saturday. Plus, we're going to drop off the car rental before 12pm because after that time, it costs another day. Our Amtrak train doesn't leave until 2pm, I think? So we're going to get there early, and we'll just munch on our sammies while we're waiting at the station.

Maybe Weird and I will get into Christmas ornaments when we have our own tree. I did find, however, really cute ones on the Disney site! It's just the classic ball ornaments, but they're decorated to look like the Fab 4 (http://www.disneystore.com/ornament...ds-holiday-ornaments-4-pc/mp/1253944/1000344/). I can see getting those! But again, I still think that it's only displayed during Christmas, so souvenir money should be spent elsewhere! At least for now, it'll be Mickey's Pantry-related! First thing's first!

Haha, so funny that you have so many of the things we photographed! I think I might get one of those pens or something (or the nerd Kooky pen set) so that I can use it for work-related things. It'll make doing school-related things more fun!

I know I'd probably decide on a design for the t-shirt and have it printed. Then I'd see someone else with a design that I didn't see and feel bad! Haha, it really is too much stress.

I lovee the Christmas shop! It's a tradition for us to buy an ornament from there each trip. I always make sure to use my Disney Visa in the DTD shops, I think you get a discount in a couple of stores besides the World of Disney store.

Ooo, we have to remember that since Weird has the Visa card. I think it has to be a certain amount spent to get a discount though, right?

 

[Cat0727]

Ooo, we have to remember that since Weird has the Visa card. I think it has to be a certain amount spent to get a discount though, right?

I just double checked to make sure and you have to spend $50 or more. I don't remember spending that much last time I used my Visa, unless the rules changed or I am just having a memory lapse

 

[RachelNinja]

I just double checked to make sure and you have to spend $50 or more. I don't remember spending that much last time I used my Visa, unless the rules changed or I am just having a memory lapse

I'm sure if we didn't control ourselves, we could easily spend $50! Haha, but we will have to watch ourselves.

YAY! Your trip is coming up soon!

 

[Jennifer48]

What sandwich do you like at Earl? I don't know if I'll ever try anything new!

I like the Italian and usually get that. I need to branch out more and try something else though, maybe the All American! That sounds yummy.

I know some people don't like going to DTD but I love perusing all those shops. Its a nice break from the parks.

 

[RachelNinja]

I like the Italian and usually get that. I need to branch out more and try something else though, maybe the All American! That sounds yummy.

I know some people don't like going to DTD but I love perusing all those shops. Its a nice break from the parks.

That's the one I'm thinking of getting for our trip back on Amtrak! I know I HAVE to get the All American. It's just my all-time favorite. But I love Italian sandwiches too! I know I'm missing out on a lot. I wish I could be there for a week and try just about everything!

I definitely want a DTD day. When I was a kid, I hated it. I forgot what it was called before it was named DTD. Disney Village or something? But I just didn't understand shopping when in Florida! If we weren't going to a park, we should be in the pool! Now I'm the complete opposite!