What Not To Wear At Walt Disney World - Getting ready for the next one -Show on again

[Philadisney]

After two years of waiting and waiting and waiting….I am finally going back to Walt Disney World! Hurrah!

Originally I had planned a six night solo trip, dividing my time between two resorts I had always wanted to try – Beach Club and Wilderness Lodge. In January, a call to inquire about rates turned out better than I expected:

Phone lady: Oh, you must be calling because of your special rate?
Me: My what now?
Phone lady: You’ve been selected to receive a 40% off hotel room rate. A coupon was emailed to you, correct?
Me: What?? No, but I’ll take it!

I not only took it but I added a fourth night at Wilderness Lodge. After I hung up with the nice phone lady I checked my email and there was indeed a coupon for 40% off. I was more thrilled than you could possibly imagine. It was like winning a dream fastpass, except the fastpass was my wallet, and the dream was that less monies were being taken out of it.

The plan was that if any of my friends wanted to go, they could go, but I was all set with my hotel & flight – I wouldn’t be waiting around for anyone to make up their mind in the 11th hour. My friend Jakkie turned out to be all about joining me for a few days – I sent her some estimates on cost, and pretty soon she had booked her own flight – joining me for the first four days of the trip, at Wilderness Lodge. Jakkie hadn’t been to Disney World in a long time and had wanted to go back, so I’m delighted to get to show her all the new stuff she hasn’t seen.

Until a month ago I was still planning to spend the second part of my trip solo, but somehow I did manage to convince my friend to join me for the latter half – his plane arrives at the same time Jakkie’s leaves on the fourth day of my trip, Sept 2. He has never been to Disney World…but he is excited because they have water parks. He really, really loves water parks. I’m lucky he’s coming during the time I’ll be at Beach Club, as I hear Stormalong Bay is practically a water park itself.

So if you're up for reading along as I get ready, that would be splendid. There will be lots of pictures, and lots of confusion (I'm very very scatterbrained) as I still have a million things to do. It felt like the past several months have been dragging by, and now it is just a few weeks away!

PRE-TRIPPIE:
1st: Introduction - Is what you are reading.
2nd: What, Not to Wear?! - Right below! Scroll just a little bit...teeny bit more...there you go.
3rd: Vague Attempts At Scrapbooking
4th: Vague Attempts At Scrapbooking - College Program Edition
5th: The Itinerary, Which May or May Not Actually Be Adhered To
6th: Last Chance for Adventuring
7th: Vow Renewal at the Swan (Don't Get Excited...Not Me!)
8th: Critter Love (Or, "No Ma'am, You Cannot Put A Kitten In Your Carry-On")
9th: The Mysterious Mr. Vacuum
10th: Souven-ears
11th: Good Surprise! Bad Surprise.
12th: Baaack!

TRIP REPORT!
1st: Getting there!
2nd: Epicot & the Big Blue
3rd: Food and Fotos at Epcot
4th: Arrrround the World Showcase
5th: Even Further Around the World Showcase
6th: Tonga Toast & Magic Kingdom!
7th: Small World, Stepsisters, Scary Adventures, Share a Dream Come True, and other things that start with S
8th: To Toontown & Tomorrowland!
9th: Jellyrolls!
10th: Yaks, Yetis, Fried Cream Cheese!
11th: Hurricanes and Shopping Sprees!
12th: Amphibians & Rodents I Have Loved
13th: In Loving Memory of Four for a Dollar
14th: Touring the Wilderness Lodge!
15th: Off Into the Sunset
16th: Terror at Typhoon Lagoon
17th: The Sophisticated Glamor of the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
18th: A Hollywood Morning and a Nautical Afternoon
19th: Fancy Feast!
20th: Crabcot!
21st: A Rainy Morning in Crabcot
22nd: Rodents Abound at the Garden Grill
23rd: Hoopla!
24th: The Last Day, and THE END!

 

[Philadisney]

Part of why I am just starting the pre-trip report now is I couldn’t think of a good title. I am no Nebo (really, who could live up to Honey I Shrunk The Checkbook)? Jack still claims that the title I came up with for this pre-trip report is dumb, so I’ve tasked him with thinking of a clever one for the actual trip report. That was probably a bad idea – so far I’ve had to reject all his suggestions for being R-rated. At least in the meantime I can explain the title of this thing.

If you’re reading the DISBoards, chances are good you probably have a closet full of Mickey Mouse tote bags, Princess t-shirts, Disney-branded jewelry, maybe even a pair of Mickey crocs. Perhaps you, like me, have friends who roll their eyes and question why a professional adult thinks a rhinestone-studded Cinderella tank top is appropriate attire for a night out on the town. Or you have co-workers who wonder why you thought it was a good idea to wear Finding Nemo socks to the office.

Apparently my Disney apparel was so out of control that my loved ones decided that professionals needed to be called in. One day I was sitting in a meeting at work when the door burst open and Stacy & Clinton from the television show What Not To Wear accosted me.

WNTW is a show on TLC where they basically give people makeovers – cleaning out their entire closets and allowing them to spend $5000 on a new wardrobe. You can read all about it on this thread. I spent a week in NYC taping the show and had a wonderful time. Incidentally, it was probably the most Disney-fied episode of WNTW ever.

It is worth noting that the person who signed me up for this show was indeed, Ms. Jakkie. Here we are at my reveal party for my episode.

While she may have succeeded in pruning my closet of all the middle-school sweaters, shorts I grew out of in 1998, and the beloved Mickey bag that was so ratty and stained it was practically falling apart...there is a small WDW stash that I’ve accumulated over the past year. Stacy & Clinton were adamant that Alice in Wonderland purses, Minnie t-shirts, and my precious Crocs were only appropriate at Disney World. Well guess what – that is where we’re going!

I recently showed Jakkie a pair of jeans I had picked up for our trip at my local Disney Store (which has since closed!). It has Disney characters like Alice, Eeyore and Mickey stamped all over the legs. She looked at it in disgust and said “You are NOT wearing those when you are with me.” Ha…I don’t think she’s going to like any of the alternatives that I will have in my suitcase!

Yeah, so my bathing suits, jeans, tank tops and t-shirts all have Disney characters on them – I don’t get to wear them too often anymore! And I even picked up two new shirts for Jack & me of my very favorite new movie:

PLUG: WALL-E is AMAZING. See it. I have. Three times.

ANOTHER PLUG: DoOverDreams posted on the second page that my episode airs again tomorrow, August 4th, at 1pm on TLC. So you can check it out then if you like!

 

[disneychick0412]

Signing up!! I like the title!! It is what caught my eye as I have watched your episode of WNTW twice!!!

I can't wait to read the rest!!

 

[kaysmommie]

Subscribing. So did you get another Alice tote for your trip .

 

[jackdis]

I'm here from your other thread. I'm so excited that you're going and that you're doing a TR. We will be at the POLY later this month.

Have fun planning! Keep us posted. And of course, what you've packed already looks GREAT!!!

I loved the episode of WNTW. How does your hair look now? I know you've been asked that A LOT. Post a picture of you when you can.

 

[thewesterberg]

I've gotta get in on this too!

Saw you on WNTW and I'm glad to see you're able to get some use out of those forbidden Disney clothes again! Just don't let Stacey and Clinton know - They'd probably commandeer the monorail and not let you off until you were wearing a fashionable dress and heels.

 

[Hedy]

I'm in!

 

[Philadisney]

I've gotta get in on this too!

Saw you on WNTW and I'm glad to see you're able to get some use out of those forbidden Disney clothes again! Just don't let Stacey and Clinton know - They'd probably commandeer the monorail and not let you off until you were wearing a fashionable dress and heels.

They can't - I have them on tape saying my clothes would be OK to wear at Walt Disney World Heels in Magic Kingdom - can you imagine??

I'm here from your other thread. I'm so excited that you're going and that you're doing a TR. We will be at the POLY later this month.

Have fun planning! Keep us posted. And of course, what you've packed already looks GREAT!!!

I loved the episode of WNTW. How does your hair look now? I know you've been asked that A LOT. Post a picture of you when you can.

Oooh the Poly is on my list of places I would love to stay at! Maybe the next time I get a 40% discount!
I actually just got my hair cut last week and I love it. I have a really wonderful hairdresser (if anyone in Philly is looking for a recommendation, let me know! ) and I went to him saying "I need a haircut, but I need you to cut it so it will still be relatively short when I go to Florida in 5 weeks". I loved what he did. I don't have many pictures of it but here is one from a music festival I was at yesterday - not a great shot, but you get the idea.

Subscribing. So did you get another Alice tote for your trip .

Remember how they let me keep the blue Alice bag? With the magic of safety pins, I think it will be OK for one more trip to WDW maybe I'll pick up a new bag while I am there.

Signing up!! I like the title!! It is what caught my eye as I have watched your episode of WNTW twice!!!
I can't wait to read the rest!!

Thanks! I have lots more to add before my plane takes off on August 30th. It is nice to know so many people who have seen the show are tuning in - it's like you already know me & Jakkie a little bit

 

[Philadisney]

I'm in!

Whoops, I missed you - hi!

 

[sharonW]

I'm here too!!

 

[jwwi]

Joining in, loved your wntw episode!

BTW, I love your haircut, and really like the title of your PTR.

 

[PEANUT1]

i love that show....sorry I missed you. maybe i'll see in in a rerun.

 

[jackdis]

Your hair is so cute. Perfect style for you!!

 

[mkluvsmickey]

Yay! So glad you are doing a report. I really enjoyed watching your episode of WNTW - you are adorable! Looking forward to your report.

 

[disneychick0412]

I've gotta get in on this too!

Saw you on WNTW and I'm glad to see you're able to get some use out of those forbidden Disney clothes again! Just don't let Stacey and Clinton know - They'd probably commandeer the monorail and not let you off until you were wearing a fashionable dress and heels.

I can't be the only one who has a picture in their head of Stacey London walking down Main Street in a dress and heels!! I love the show, but they seem to think heels are appropriate shoes for any occasion!!!

 

[DoOverDreams]

I just read through all 75 pages of your wonderful report on the show. Fantastic! I am really looking forward to seeing it on TV. And great news (and perfect timing). The show is on tomorrow (Monday, August 4) on TLCHD at 1:00 pm eastern time. I've already got the DVR setup to record.

I can't wait to watch....

 

[Philadisney]

I'm in!

I'm here too!!

Joining in, loved your wntw episode!

BTW, I love your haircut, and really like the title of your PTR.

Yay! So glad you are doing a report. I really enjoyed watching your episode of WNTW - you are adorable! Looking forward to your report.

Thanks all! I'm glad so many people are reading along.

i love that show....sorry I missed you. maybe i'll see in in a rerun.

Apparently you can tomorrow at 1pm! (Thanks for the tip, DoOverDreams! I don't have digital cable so i never know when the thing is on!)

Your hair is so cute. Perfect style for you!!

Thanks! I LOVE my hairstylist in Philly. I have been going to him for a few years. I always just tell him to do what he thinks will look best and I am always thrilled with it.

I can't be the only one who has a picture in their head of Stacey London walking down Main Street in a dress and heels!! I love the show, but they seem to think heels are appropriate shoes for any occasion!!!

I know! I still have trouble walking in heels, although I try. The show actually bought me a ton of flat shoes, thank goodness! I think they knew it was going to take me a while to get used to any kind of heel!

I just read through all 75 pages of your wonderful report on the show. Fantastic! I am really looking forward to seeing it on TV. And great news (and perfect timing). The show is on tomorrow (Monday, August 4) on TLCHD at 1:00 pm eastern time. I've already got the DVR setup to record.

I can't wait to watch....

Thanks for letting me know! I can't believe you read through all the pages!! I suppose watching the show will be a good introduction to my trip report - they really went over the top in making me look like a Disney freak

 

[meeko_33785]

Hi. I saw you on TV too and wondered how long it would take before you started getting your Disney clothes back. I'm definatly going to keep an eye on this report. Should be fun.

 

[punkin413]

yay!!! i'm so excited to join in the fun! i saw your show the day it premiered and it was great - you're such a cutie! i think you'll be there the same time as me and my friend erica. our dates are 9/3 - 9/8. although we're not doing a pre-TR because i'm right in the middle of a TR from my april/may trip with DH, so my head might explode if i take on two TRs at once! can't wait to hear your details and if our plans will overlap at all! i will be looking for you! (i hope that doesn't sound stalker-ish! )

 

[disneymom1980]

I'm jumping on too. I'm going to have to try to catch your episode tomorrow....I love that show, but I haven't seen yours yet. My DD doesn't let us watch much besides the Disney Channel when she's at home . I guess that's what DVR is for.

I'm with you on the Disney clothes though.....we are going to have personalized shirts (thanks to the Creative Disigners) almost every day of our trip in October. My blank shirts are sitting on the couch right now just calling to me!