Welcome to my refuge :)

Disney has become a daily retreat for me. We may only spend 10 days there a year (more if I'm truly blessed), but I have found that making Mickey a part of my daily life makes me feel much better. So I'm running with it! Luckily I have a patient husband and a laptop computer that allows me to do endless searching and planning. This blog is developing out of that. You are welcome to come along for the ride and offer your advice. I don't claim to be an expert, just a lover of the experience!

Right now whenever a post says "Update" that means it is a 2011 trip update and if you click on the tab with that date on it you can read that update.



Saturday, November 27, 2010

Black Friday Disney-Related Purchases

Okay, had I had more money, this could have gone into seriously dangerous territory. But I was good.
I found these awesome clearance folders, notebooks and  composition books called Cover Creators.
They come with blank white covers and large printable stickers. There is a website where you design the cover and then print it on the sticker, which then goes on the notebook or folder. This will be perfect for all my Disney planning. (Lord knows I don't already have 100 notebooks started, but these will be cute!) They were only $1.50 a piece and they retail for $4.99 so I'm happy with my purchase.

I made it out of the rest of the stores Disney-free because Jim said no to the $50 inflatable Santa Mickey for the yard at Menards :(

I got home and checked my e-mail. DisneyStore.com was having a Black Friday sale too. Now my tree is only allowed to have hedgehog ornaments and Disney ornaments on it so I'm always looking for either of them. DisneyStore kind of had both! They had a ton of $5 ornaments which with the extra 20% off were only $4. I tried to stay realistic and limited myself to 3 items. Two are ornaments and one is a hedgie for my collection, Mr. Pricklepants!
Mickey & Minnie

Fantasmic
Finally, a Mr. Pricklepants for my collection!

Not too bad. Tree skirt is re-made. Looks much better this time. Hoping to decorate the tree today and maybe work on some other crafts this weekend!


Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!!

His best friend is a duck, does he really eat turkey?


To all my friends who take the time to stop by and check my little ramblings out, Happy Thanksgiving! It has been quite a year but I have not for a moment forgotten all I have to be thankful for. A husband who loves me when I'm unlovable, doctors who are able to help me no matter how long it may take, friends (some of whom I've never met face-to-face) who care about my well-being, and even though I may often want, I have more than I really need. Being graced by all of this and so much more is something to truly be thankful for.

I would not be me if I did not mention that I am also quite thankful that I get to visit Mickey every day!

Enjoy your Thanksgiving!


Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Sometimes Blogging is a Job

I've mentioned here before that I am also writing Disney blog entries for Mouse for Less Travel. I enjoy it a lot. Anything that lets me spend time talking about my obsession is great in my book. Plus the fringe benefits are super. I am eight posts away from a free Photopass CD for our next vacation. That's an amazing deal.
The thing is when my head gets funky it's more difficult to write about specific topics. I tend to wander. My head has been funky but I really need to crank these entries out. They have to be done by the end of December but when you take in to account the fact that much of my December will be spent having wires, paddles and batteries placed in my body, I should probably kick it into gear right NOW.
I'm working on this great 4-piece idea right now where I talk about my favorite things in the World using the ABC framework. I know what I'm doing for each letter of the alphabet but the writing is coming painfully slow. I need to just do it.

With a Thanksgiving car ride coming up that won't be altogether pleasant, I'm thinking it's time to haul out my Mickey notebook and try it longhand. Sometimes I do my best work that way. I'm a bit old-fashioned I guess.
Procrastination has always been my middle name but, in the end, I always pull it out.
The good news is with this weeks dilemma about trip dates I probably have another blog entry in the making! I'm glad my craziness is good for something.

Monday, November 22, 2010

My Countdown Clock May Be Moving In Reverse

Well if moving back 56 days sounded unappealing moving back 70 days sounds worse. But there may be a method to my madness.
As I explored the idea that an August trip would be more economical, I realized it is also when Disney World does their annual Pin Celebration. Being a huge pin freak, this sounded like an opportunity. We've never been there at that time. I'm usually headed back to school at that time.
My work situation is currently a little up in the air, which makes the planning of this difficult.
September 9th-11th, 2011
as I looked into this I couldn't find dates for a pin event. and then I found The Florida Project. September 9-11 at Epcot. It is a trading celebration that will be extra special because this is Disney World's 40th Anniversary. I think it would be amazing to be at. And with the money we saved on the trip, we could easily afford to attend the celebration.
Of course this is hurricane season in Florida but that's a minor detail :)

Friday, November 19, 2010

Big Decision to Make

222 days sounds closer every day, but I was trying to think of some ways to cut costs without cutting the fabulousness of our trip. I came up with a possible solution and all it would change is those countdown clocks at the bottom of my blog.
Here's what I looked at:

  • 10 days at Pop Century
  • Deluxe dining
  • 10 day Magic Your Way tickets with park hopper
The cost for this for two adults end of June/ beginning of July, when we are currently planning on going is $3763.70 when priced at Disney's website.













The same trip end of August/ beginning of September $2549.74.

Wow! We're paying $1200 to be there at the 4th of July? It would mean pushing things back but we may seriously be considering moving things back 56 days. I've become really good at waiting.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

I Found a New Project

Being on a ton of Disney e-mail lists has its advantages. One of them is I am constantly being inspired by other really creative and equally obsessed Mickey-lovers. Today I found my next project. It will be an ongoing one and one you'll see the fruits of right here.
A smart and talented guy named Bruce records every detail of his trip in a travel diary. He takes notes, photos, and videos and then combines them into a great remembrance of his trip. You can check it out here. http://www.magicalthemeparks.com/disneyworld/2010trip/
I now know what I need to collect to be able to do my own amazing trip diary. I can't think of a better way to make your trip last a lifetime! Plus it will keep me busy next year during that down time between trips :)

Sunday, November 14, 2010

I've Got My Friends in on the Action

My friend from high school, Tara, sent me this great picture:
Brewers Mickey
(Thanks again Tara!!!)
She said she thought of me when she saw it. I wonder why?

I think I have a new life goal. I will spread my insane love of Mickey with everyone I meet. This will be my new full time job. I believe it can be done. 

Hey, my husband's a convert!

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Our Adventure at the Fabric Store

Yesterday I saw this amazing fabric online and I had to have it.

BUT... It's no longer available online. So after bribing my husband with breakfast, I got him to drive me to the nearest Joanne's, the only store that carries it.

We looked around at a few things. There were a ton of people there. Finally we muscled our way over to the fabric. I was amazed that I actually found some of the fabric. I though maybe no one had it anymore. I had to get it cut then. Uhhh...

Remember I said there were a lot of people. I pushed through and got a number. I looked at it. I had number 08. They were working on number 82. It was going to be forever. And it was.


Jim didn't complain once.In fact when I told him I thought I'd only get a yard, he told me to take what was left on the bolt. It ended up being just over 4 yards. Good thing it was 40% off! I even snuck in a yard on Disney Halloween fabric that was 60% off.

I have big plans for my purchase. A mantel cover. A tree skirt. Maybe some cute apparel.

I'm trying to keep myself busy until I can do some trip planning and until surgery. I think I almost have enough projects now!

Friday, November 12, 2010

The Waiting is the Hardest Part

I am SO ready to plan our trip. I know your thinking, "Kristin, it seems to me you already have things planned. You know the dates, the hotel, you even know where you're eating every meal."
But I'm eager to start making our daily touring plans; where we go as we enter the park in the morning and the order we do things in. Now I've never done this before but 1) it sounds like tons of fun and 2) I think it will help us be more efficient in the parks. We're awfully good at wandering around going "What should we do next?" and it wastes time. We always end up missing something I really want to do.
I don't plan on being so strict that my husband will hate me- this is still Disney and we want to have fun. Seven months out he's open to the idea so I don't want to press my luck.
So what's stopping me from starting? I need park times. I can't plan my days if I don't know what park will have Magic Hours what days and what time the shows are. I can't get those until six months out. I also don't want to plan our days until our ADRs are made the last week of December. As always, when talking Disney, everything revolves around eating.
So I impatiently wait. I research and tweak what I can of my plan. I'm sending out holiday cards this week so they'll be out of my way (and yes, they are heavily Mickey-themed would you expect anything less?) I am making shrinky dinks ornaments for my all-Disney Christmas tree. If I finish those I think I'll buy some fabric and make a mantle cover like the one I saw on Disneyshopping.com. I don't have a mantle but it would look great on my TV stand. 
Read the blog title. I visit Mickey Every Day!

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

38 Wishes















I'm dividing my wishes evenly this year:
14 for early and safe surgeries
14 for early and extra visits to Mickey!!!

Here's to 38 being better than 37 and our 2011 trip being better than 2010!

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Told You So

It's official. My surgeries have been scheduled and we have overlap!


Surgery #1 is December 14th. No problem.

Surgery #2 is December 21st- the first day I have to do my computer ADRs at 190 days. That means every morning between the 21st and the 31st I have to be up at 6am to make reservations. Should be fun :)

Luckily my first day isn't a huge priority and can wait until the 22nd. My husband seems willing to help out on making this work. Being at the hospital isn't the problem. Feeling good enough to do this at 6 in the morning for 10 day is.

Anything for Mickey.

Dear Santa, Part 2


Event Information

DATES
May 12-13.

LOCATION
Walt Disney World Resort
Orlando, Florida

TICKETS
Ticket purchasing information will be published at D23 website later this year.
D23's Great Disney Scavenger Hunt: Walt Disney World. The race is on… again! Following the first Great Disney Scavenger Hunt, which took place at Disneyland on September 26 and drawing 2,000 people and 575 teams, D23 is inviting guests to the Walt Disney World Resort for a fun-filled, two-day hunt around the World. In spring 2011, for the first time in the 40-year history of Walt Disney World, guests will have the chance to scour all four theme parks to win incredible Disney prizes in this official Disney scavenger hunt. Each team will consist of between 2-4 participants, and additional rules and registration information will be announced here soon.


 DATES
May 12-13. 

LOCATION
Walt Disney World Resort
Orlando, Florida

TICKETS
Ticket purchasing information will be published at D23 website later this year.




Following the rave reviews of Destination D: Disneyland '55, D23 has announced Destination D: Walt Disney World 40th Anniversary, to be held in spring 2011. The event will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Orlando resort, its history and heritage. Panels will include all-new presentations that echo the successful panels at Destination D: Disneyland '55, including "Walt Disney World: The Way We Were," hosted by Disney Legend Dave Smith, "Weird Disney" with Walt Disney Archives director Becky Cline, "From Quirky to Collectible: The Wonderful World of Walt Disney World Merchandise," "Walt Disney World Through the Eye of Television" and "Walt Disney World in Pop Culture," as well as a special evening event featuring musical memories from throughout the history of Walt Disney World. Other panels, featured speakers and details will be announced soon


Yes Santa, I know I've got a trip planned in June and July, but wouldn't these few days in May be the ultimate COOLEST!!!

Friday, November 5, 2010

Now I'm getting nervous...

I try not to be a negative thinker but I'll admit I do a lot better with that when I'm in Orlando! Here's my current concern: I think I find out when my much needed stimulator surgeries are tomorrow.That's great for me!!! But they can't get in the way of trip planning either.
We have to make our hotel reservation with Emily at Mouse for Less by the 2nd week of December. This is important or I won't be able to make my ADRs starting December 21st. I also have to be healthy enough to make ADRs December 21st through 31st at the crack of dawn. Because I'm doing them online 10 days early, I have to get up each day. When I get my perfect plan, it will be worth it!
Finally, I am concerned that I better start cranking out my Mouse for Less blog entries in case I'm not up to it after surgery. I'm counting on getting a Photopass CD by blogging so I can't get behind!
It's funny because Mickey has gotten me through some of the worse moments of my illness. Now in facing my illness, I am concerned than Mickey get treated well too
P.S. Wouldn't this shower curtain make a great birthday present for a Mickey freak? (11/10 if you're wondering LOL!)