So when do you start packing for your Disney vacation? Not five months out? Oh. Well, that’s where we differ. I kind of don’t ever unpack from Disney. Not that I have suitcases shoved full of dirty vacation clothes that I just toss into the back of the car when we leave. We bring along laundry detergent and wash clothes before heading home and there are a few items that we don’t take out of our suitcases because they are for-Disney-only. Leaving them in the car makes me feel like I’m never too far away from another trip. Of course when it’s a special trip, like one over THE HOLIDAYS, even the real packing has to get a boost and start early. I haven’t gone full-on roll-the-underwear-and-tuck-the-socks yet, but I’ve been adding to my Disney stash and I wanted to give you a glimpse of the extra things I’m planning to bring along with me for this trip.
Into the suitcase…
Seasonal clothes. There is not a single day that I am in Disney that I am not wearing Disney-related clothing. I just won’t do it. I’m particularly fond of my custom clothing and I tend to design a few new pieces for each trip. This year, of course, I’m working on plans for Thanksgiving shirts. I have visions of pilgrim Mickeys and turkey legs, but I’m hoping for a few subtle things as well. I’ll reprise my “Home for the Holidays” shirt from last year and I’ll working out the kinks of a couple new Christmas shirts. Since I am very much in the camp that “The Nightmare Before Christmas” is a Christmas movie and not a Halloween movie, Jack will be featuring strongly in my wardrobe as well
Layers. What have we learned about weather at Disney? We never have any idea what it’s going to be like. You might think it’s going to be warm and even take a dip in the pool during the morning and then be shivering your way through Pirates in the evening. That’s why my holiday packing will include several layers. My Jack Skellington dress will have tights as well as capris to wear under it depending on the weather. I’ll have a hoodie and a couple of long-sleeved shirts. But I’ll also whip out the Creature from the Black Lagoon look again and bring along my bathing suit
Stamps. This might not have been one that you expected, but it’s important to my plans for Thanksgiving. Hubby’s family takes Thanksgiving very seriously and it will be a big change to be away from them the weekend after when the whole family gets together for a huge meal. I’m planning to ease this difficulty a bit by sending post cards throughout the trip. Since Avalon is mastering the whole writing thing she’ll be able to write some herself and we’ll be able to send them from Main Street so they will have the Disney postmark. I’m hoping to send several to his family, my father and stepmother in Massachusetts, and Lindsey where she will be teaching for a year in Israel. It should be a fun way to reach out to them and still be together for the holiday
Books. We never go anywhere without at least one book, a notebook, and pens. It just isn’t done. This year for Disney, however, I’ll be bulking up on these items. I know that the crowds are going to be bananas (or nanner pudding if we want to be seasonal) and there might be times when we just don’t make it through the whole day. Instead, we’ll need some cool down time at the hotel. You all know that I am not a “pool day” type person. We have pools in Virginia. I don’t need to take a day of my vacation to sit beside another one. But if we do take a relaxing morning or evening, you’ll find me curled up with a book trying to decompress.
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Taryn was born and raised, and still lives in Richmond, Virginia. Neither she nor her husband ever had the opportunity to visit Walt Disney World when they were children, but when their daughter Avalon came along, they decided she was not going to follow in their footsteps. They brought Avalon for the first time when she was 3 and have been hooked ever since. Now along with Taryn’s mother and equally Disney-loving older brother, they go “home” at least once a year, and by the time she is staring longingly at Cinderella Castle from the ferry on their last night, Taryn is well on her way to planning the next trip. As a group consisting of two adults with Asperger’s, including one who is also vegan, a very accommodating husband, an only child, a senior, and a service dog, they are a pretty special family, but Taryn is excited to show that the World really is The Most Magical Place on Earth and that there is a place there for everyone. When she isn’t thinking about her next Disney adventure and trying to come up with a Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party costume that will beat her Oozma Kappa nerd look, she is a professional blogger and novelist, but Taryn also likes to indulge her Disney passion on her Etsy shop It’s Better in Vinyl.
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