What to Wear to Disney

[edit: I wrote this post when I was heading to Disney in 2014. Sadly, it is January 2015 and I'm not headed to WDW]

I'm leaving for Disney in three days! 

And I'm having trouble packing. This time around I'm only going to be there for two full days, book-ended by two half days. The problem is that it is much easier for me to pack for six days than basically two. I'm a chronic over packer. Also, I haven't been to Disney in full-on summer weather in over five years-but I remember what it's like. Boy, do I remember.  Hot, humid, and very much like my own lovely Washington, D.C. in that it is quite simply not fit for daily living. So I'm thinking that this trip I'm going to let go of any notions of fashion and embrace the probability of being a big sweaty-but-happy mess.

I've read a log of blog advice on what to wear to Disney, most of it conflicting. The real secret to choosing clothes for WDW, in my humble opinion, is to wear whatever enables you to feel you can really enjoy yourself. Maybe that means your most comfortable work-out gear. Maybe it means a dress and flip-flops. You know what you personally feel best in. Nothing ruins a day for me like constantly worrying about what I'm wearing. 

Every time I pack for WDW I find myself getting caught up in what will look good in photos, what will be most comfortable, etc., etc., and it all boils down to this: what can I put on and feel reasonably confident in, and then totally forget that I am wearing so that I can have a blast? Because after all that thought, I NEVER remember what I wore (which is good) only that I had a great time. I often don't even mind if I don't look the greatest in my photos, because I usually have a huge, beaming smile on my face and I don't care what you look like, happy looks good on anybody.

See? I got caught in a rainstorm on my way to lunch, but I was so friggin' excited to eat at Be Our Guest that I didn't even care.

This one? Sweaty. No make-up. But hey, Figment! So who cares?

That being said, I do have a few suggestions for what to pack beyond the usual "breathable cotton" and "comfortable shoes":

1. Pack extra shirts. And underwear. I usually head back to my room for an afternoon swim or nap. Once I change out of a shirt that has gotten sweaty, I personally can't bring myself to put it back on, so I'll often wear the same shorts and shoes with a clean t-shirt for a return to the parks in the evening. Yes, this means packing essentially two outfits for some days, but it is worth it when you realize that I wouldn't be able to focus on having fun while wondering if my shirt smelled like sweat all night. Don't even get me started on sweat-soaked underwear (it happens).

2. Wear the shoes you want. You'll be walking a lot. You'll be standing even more. Wear whatever means comfort in that situation for you. When I was finally old enough to choose my own footwear (my parents were always big on the athletic shoes in any walking situation), I wore flip flops, and contrary to everything I had ever been told, they didn't break and my feet felt fabulous at the end of the day. I will say, however, that they were decent flip flops, not $2 bargains meant for the pool.

3. Pack for extreme sun and extreme rain. Sunglasses are a must if you like to see. So are ponchos if you like to be dry and don't want to be making a mad dash to pay for one in the Emporium or MouseGear.

I'm sure there are plenty more tips to be had. I will amend as necessary, and you can feel free to leave yours in the comments! Now to get back to trying not to over think the current contents of my suitcase.

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WDW Withdrawal

It usually starts with something small, like an e-mail in my inbox that Disney is running a promotion. 30% off a six-day vacation? Let’s calculate how much that would be. Oh…well never mind then.

But then the seeds are planted. I start thinking about it more and more. I haven’t been in over a year, I’ll think. Surely there’s a celebration to be had. I start talking about it obsessively, and it always leads to one conclusion: I need a Disney World vacation.

That doesn’t mean I always get one, though. Far from it. If I went every time I wanted to I’d be very, very broke.  That means I need to find a way to get my Disney fix and stave off the vacation cravings as long as possible. In that pursuit, I am dedicating this little piece of the internet to my love of WDW (obsession? Perhaps.) I’ve decided that those days when I just can’t stop thinking about being in Disney will henceforth be known as my “Zip a Dee Doo Dah Days” and I will channel my desire to be there into posts about my favorite memories, tips and thoughts on the parks. I don't have insider information. I'm not affiliated with the Walt Disney Company or any subsidiary. I just have my observations and hopefully some wit.

Via

Here’s hoping it helps ease the withdrawal!

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Conversations with my grandparents.

Mom-mom: "What is Ben doing today?"

Me: "He's taking himself to the movies."

Mom-mom: "You have a weird relationship."

Pap-pap: "I couldn't sleep, so I was trying to watch TV. I didn't know they tried to sell pornographic things then."

Mom-mom (under her breath): "Not that they'd do anything for him anyway."

Me: "I was listening to a comedian who said that you should ask your grandfather about the last time he had sex, and it will be the funniest conversation you ever have."

Pap-pap: "Heh. Heh heh heh."

Mom-mom: "...it's been quite a while."

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27

I love cake. Hence, I love birthdays. Especially my birthday because I get to pick the cake. Or the foods of celebration in this case, since I'd already had birthday cake last week. My birthday was on a Thursday this year and it was pretty darn awesome. Casual and fun.

At work, my boss gave me flowers, and my awesome interns surprised me after work with cupcakes from Hello Cupcake on Capitol Hill. They were so good I ate two.

We had dinner at Red Robin with my little brother and father (toasting with their bottomless root beer floats).

The boys helped me unwrap my gifts.

My mother is very crafty, so she saves a lot of things. This is the first time she's left me a note on a birthday gift to save things though.

B was disappointed to find out that he had given me the exact same birthday card two years in a row (and I could prove it, since he always dates his cards). His words were "Damn it, Hallmark!" But it's a nice card, so if he thinks of me when he sees it I have no objections.

I felt really loved with all the well wishes and little things my friends and family did (texts, cards, gifts, Facebook posts) to let me know they were thinking of me. And that's the best part of any birthday.

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Until next summer, Rita's

We got a jump on celebrating my birthday early this weekend with a trip to Uno's Pizzeria and one last visit to Rita's before the end of the season. 

Even though we had to sit in the car with our coats on and it was dark out it was still amazing.

Brr.

Then Sunday I had birthday cake..and birthday cake ice cream to go with it. It was forced on me by my parents. Clearly.

My "I love cake" face.

But then I went for a walk in the park with B...so it all evens out, right? Yes.

Elsewhere in the week...

I made the Washington Post, 

 #musempeopleproblems,

and Truman sat on the remotes.

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Weekend Recap

B was away for the weekend on a motorcycle trip, so I took the opportunity to fill my weekend with other friends and family.

Friday night I had pizza and beer with my little brother while watching World's Dumbest.

Saturday I indulged...a lot. Since B doesn't like to eat junk food and I love it, I tend to go a little overboard when he's away. Ice cream by myself, and then dinner and wine with my girlfriends while we watched wedding shows. We capped off the evening with a cupcake tasting.

Sunday morning I got to have snuggles with my fur babies.

Sunday myself, my brother and one of my cousins took my grandmother out to dinner for her upcoming 75th birthday. 

Party shoes.

In my hometown there's a rather unique restaurant built in an old chicken coop on a farm, and it is THE PLACE to go to celebrate something (it's also one of THE ONLY PLACES to go, but that's beside the point). They serve food family style, and the only thing you choose is your main dish. In the "appetizer" round they bring out cottage cheese and apple butter, coleslaw, fruit and sugar biscuits or "hush puppies". The hush puppies are not the kind you get in the south. They are simply biscuits fried and rolled in sugar, and they are one of the best things you will ever put in your mouth.

Mouth-watering goodness.

We made her sit with a birthday balloon. Thankfully no one sang.

After you are full of fried carbs, they bring you your entree (my cousin and I split fried chicken and eggplant parmesan) along with green beans, corn, french fries and, at our request, more hush puppies. And if you aren't done (which you aren't) they top it off with a dish of ice cream. Afterwards, as tradition dictates, you roll yourself out onto the grounds of the farm to visit the pond and the ducks that live there. If you are in the know, you save some of the non-sugared dinner rolls (since no one eats the non-sugared ones, there are plenty) to feed the little guys.

Such a great weekend, but glad to have B home safely for snuggles.

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One Year Later

2013

2014

As of Sunday, September 7, B and I have officially been married for one year. Time does indeed fly. In many ways the year was the same as the past four (three? four? I don't even know anymore) that we've been together. We already lived together, so we didn't need to merge two households. We already shared a joint bank account. I didn't change my last name. Really, our day to day lives didn't change that much, but there is something intangibly different about being "official". It feels different to be presented to the world as a married couple, even though our commitment to one another was cemented long ago. 

We wanted to mark the occasion with a few days of just enjoying one another's company. Also we just bought a house and aren't in a position to shell out cash for a big splashy trip at the moment. So we took off from work Friday and spent two days at the beach with some good friends.

Sunset over the bay.

 

Ice cream, always.

We went home Saturday night and spent our actual anniversary hanging out at the house, and doing some of our favorite things together:

Eating.

B made me blueberry pancakes for breakfast and I used my favorite Disney "Mrs." mug. We also got Chipotle for dinner and had frozen yogurt for a special treat.

Cuddling.

With both each other and the cats.

And being outside on a beautiful day.

Hiking in the local park.

I personally love to find unique gifts, so I gave B a wallet card to replace the tattered note I wrote to him years ago that he's been keeping in there, and a little book of things I love about him.

A lovely day to cap off a great year, and a great way to launch the next, hopefully-equally-as-great one.

  

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