Disney and the Art of the Remodel

I am in the process of remodeling my house with the not-so-long-term goal of selling it. My husband has been relocated for work so we know we're going to be moving. We'd just like to make our current house as appealing as possible. We're doing the work ourselves to save as much money as possible (extra for Florida, right?)

By now you're wondering if you're reading the right blog. What does this have to do with Mickey or Disney? Well, I've come to believe that remodeling is a lot like planning for a trip to Disney. Let me explain my thinking to you.

First, both are projects that require some planning up front. I don't just drive to Lowe's and decide to re-floor my house. I also am not the kind of person that is likely to just arrive at Disney World with no reservation ready to play for two weeks.This planning in both cases requires the help of knowledgeable people. Paint experts, flooring gurus, tile teachers. I've met them all and learned from them. When it comes to Disney, there are experts too. Many are online. I've read many boards and blogs and gained much wisdom from them.

After much thought, decisions are made. Materials are bought. Paints are tinted. Tiles selected. Flooring loaded onto a flatbed cart. Cashiers smile as they ring you up. For me, this time my Disney  reservation will be somewhat different than in the past when I worked with a travel agent as I will book my own reservation. Being a travel agent will make the checkout process different but the decision making process will still be the same. With Disney, I usually could tell you exactly what I want the day after our last trip ended!

In both cases changes are made. We have changed paint colors. We have changed ADRs. We have changed flooring styles. We have changed vacation dates. The order rooms will be completed. The order parks will be completed. Things change all the time.

Sometimes both can get a bit messy.I always find the mess to be fun but I prefer cleaning up double booked dinner reservations than I do spilled paint. In the end the mess can lead to something new and unexpected like a new schedule or a new favorite pair of jeans that are a little more stylish than they were before you slopped paint on them.

The sink that will be in my spare bathroom in my new house. It's waiting in storage/

I play the role of "errand girl " in both cases as well. During remodeling, my husband is our in-house expert while I run to get his every need, During Disney planning I play both the expert and the errand girl, running to get the last minute things I know we'll need for the trip. I make myself good lists so I really don't mind!

There is an anticipation in both cases for the end date to draw near. In one case you are working to get nearer the completion of the project. In the other you are working to get nearer to the start of the project.It's exciting in either case and makes the days in between keep moving.

Project completion is where these two vary. With remodeling you're done or moving on to the next project. With Disney: You Finally Get To Take You're Trip!!! Definitely a bigger celebration!

Yes, both have clean up and budgeting but if I talked too much about those I'd take away from the celebration of finishing the project. Think of it as the Disney magic that goes on behind the scenes.

So I hope you can see how this is helping me get through the remodel of one (maybe two) houses which cuts down on my Disney time immensely. I am becoming a more efficient planner this time around since I am planning as I remodel. I have less time to blog but that certainly doesn't mean I don't find time for Mickey everyday.