So Much To Celebrate!!!...Sept 19th to 26th Trip!!! (Update 09/11/09)

[vladimir10]

OK, First, I have no idea what I'm doing here

So, with that said, here is my stab at a pre-trip report!!!

The Plan: September 19th thru September 26th, AKV (First time Home)

The Players:
Me - vladimir10
Wife - vet1999
Son - JC
Friend - Em
Friend - Kev

So, the wife and I have been there several times (one of them was the honeymoon), but its been a while. My son, who is 4, never been to WDW.
So, his first trip, and his b-day in October.

Our friends (they are married, no kids) have never been there, but have always wanted to go.

For us, our 10 yr anniversary!!

Also, my wife has decided to run a triathalon locally, so she has been losing weight like crazy (over 60 pounds) and working out.

(Edited) Forgot this one (maybe on purpose) I turn the big 40 this August!

So, plenty to celebrate!!!

Can't plan much yet (June 21st for ADRs), but can get some ideas going.

We want to do MNSSHP. That week is a Tuesday and Friday, so we are trying for the Tuesday one Gotta work on costumes now!!!

Also plan on doing the Sunset Safari (get the boy into Simba's Cubhouses, sure he'll love it), probably Monday night.

Want to also do an adult dinner (son into Simba's Cubhouses again ), just not sure where yet.

Probably get DxDP for all of us, we like to eat a lot, so that'll make most choices a little easier.

Hmm, what else, oh, for wife, jc and me, probably get the AP Premium, friends probably MYW tickets w/Park Hopper and Water Park.

Probably make a couple of breakfast character meals, maybe one dinner, but also want to not do ADRs for everything, want some flexibility.

Spend part of all of one day at AKL. So looking forward to see it!!!

Well, as I get more figured out, I'll get it posted.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Wow! You do have a lot to celebrate.

We, too, will be celebrating our wedding anniversary in WDW. We'll be married 25 years in August. Our daughter will be graduating her 2nd year of missionary college. Our son will be turning 12. This will be our 14th trip to Disney but still love it bunches. What better place than WDW to have a celebration.

 

[vladimir10]

Wow! You do have a lot to celebrate.

We, too, will be celebrating our wedding anniversary in WDW. We'll be married 25 years in August. Our daughter will be graduating her 2nd year of missionary college. Our son will be turning 12. This will be our 14th trip to Disney but still love it bunches. What better place than WDW to have a celebration.

No Place better!!!

Wow, that sounds like you guys are busy, too!!!

When do you plan on going?

 

[mickeystoontown]

We'll be at Pop Century August 5th through the 15th. It's our first time staying in a value resort. I had pretty much decided that it would be okay since it would only be three in a room. Now, with my daughter coming along, I am getting a little nervous again. But, I'm thinking happy thoughts!

 

[vladimir10]

We'll be at Pop Century August 5th through the 15th. It's our first time staying in a value resort. I had pretty much decided that it would be okay since it would only be three in a room. Now, with my daughter coming along, I am getting a little nervous again. But, I'm thinking happy thoughts!

Sounds like fun!!!

 

[wdwmom0f3]

HI! I just noticed that you will be there the same time as us!! We are so excited to be going back. My DH and I will be celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary while we are there and my Mom will also have a birthday during our stay. What better way to celebrate than a trip to Disney World!!

I hope that you have a wonderful time planning!! It's half of the fun for me.

 

[vladimir10]

HI! I just noticed that you will be there the same time as us!! We are so excited to be going back. My DH and I will be celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary while we are there and my Mom will also have a birthday during our stay. What better way to celebrate than a trip to Disney World!!

I hope that you have a wonderful time planning!! It's half of the fun for me.

Wow, 20 years, thats great!!! Anything special planned?

 

[vladimir10]

OK, need some input from all you Disney experts here. One of the nights, we 'adults' (take that as you will...) want to plan an adult night for dinner. Any suggestions for a good adult place? 2 of us are vegetarians (they eat fish), the other 2 eat anything. We have been to Victoria and Alberts before, don't want to spend that much, either. I am thinking Le Cellier, have seen a lot of good things about it.

As we have (tenatively) planned things for Monday and Tuesday night, probably Wednesday night. I was thinking of using Wednesday as a 'home' day, swimming and exploring the resort. So, any thoughts?

 

[Patricia721]

Boma at AKL gets good reviews & has some fish & vegetarian choices. Sanaa is the new restaurant at Kidani Village (AKL) & seems to have an interesting menu. We enjoyed LeCellier a few years back. Have fun with your trip planning!

 

[shordiebecka]

Hey There! Have you thought about the California Grill on top of the Contemporary? Heard amazing things about it, though I've never been there. Another idea is to spend the night dining & testing various wines/beers around the world-why not have an early dinner at Le Cellier or at Tutto Italia, then explore the world in an adult type way. Or, if you don't drink, you can pop over to the boardwalk for some laughs at Jellyrolls, sports at the ESPN club, or just explore the boardwalk. you could also do Raglan Road at DTD- amazing place to eat, live Irish music..

Sorry, I had lots of ideas, lol. Can't wait to hear what you decide on!

 

[vladimir10]

Boma at AKL gets good reviews & has some fish & vegetarian choices. Sanaa is the new restaurant at Kidani Village (AKL) & seems to have an interesting menu. We enjoyed LeCellier a few years back. Have fun with your trip planning!

Thanks for the suggestions. I asked my wife about Sanaa, but she's not much for Indian food. So, maybe LeCellier.

Hey There! Have you thought about the California Grill on top of the Contemporary? Heard amazing things about it, though I've never been there. Another idea is to spend the night dining & testing various wines/beers around the world-why not have an early dinner at Le Cellier or at Tutto Italia, then explore the world in an adult type way. Or, if you don't drink, you can pop over to the boardwalk for some laughs at Jellyrolls, sports at the ESPN club, or just explore the boardwalk. you could also do Raglan Road at DTD- amazing place to eat, live Irish music..

Sorry, I had lots of ideas, lol. Can't wait to hear what you decide on!

The Le Cellier and Epcot drinking thing has a lot of possibility. It was an idea I kinda had. When I mentioned it to my wife, she was like 'Canada?' So, we'll see. I'll let you know.

 

[vladimir10]

OK, here are some thoughts on other things to do.

I have a feeling my son would love character meals. I plan on doing mostly breakfast ones. The reason for that is because most of the character meals are buffets, and wife HATES buffets!!! (breakfast ones are ok, dinner, not so much)

So, after looking them over, I think these are the probable thoughts:

Breakfast: Monday - Tusker House Breakfast
Tuesday - Chef Mickey's Breakfast
Thursday - Cape May Cafe

Dinner: Here I'm not sure. At a guess, either Hollywood & Vine or O'hana's. What do you guys think?

 

[vladimir10]

Bump

 

[vladimir10]

So, our friends are coming over tonight for dinner and to discuss flight plans and ADR stuff. More planning!!! I've been in stand by mode for now. It's kinda sucky that I really can't do anything until June 21st (90 days).

On a plus note, I started using http://www.mousemanager.com. Wonderful program, really nice way to keep track of information about your trip!!!

 

[vladimir10]

Well, after discussing it with our friends, we have decided not to do the Sunset Safari. It's just too expensive. So, I think we'll just have an adult dinner at Jiko and enjoy the resort in the evening. Maybe head over to a resort for the fireworks or get into EMH somewhere. See how it goes.

On the good side, it looks like we'll book the flights this weekend. Probably through US Air, they seemed the best prices for the best times. When flying down, I like to leave in the morning (if I could get the 6 Am one, I would, not sure Wife is up for it ) and coming back early afternoon flight time, but we'll see.

Well, off to play a game with son. Saturday morning, and he's up at 6 AM!!!

 

[wdwmom0f3]

Wow, 20 years, thats great!!! Anything special planned?

Thank you!! Yes, I am going to get a cake for one of our ADR's. I have been thinking about having it delivered at 1900 Park Fare from the beginning. The kids will be with us so it will be fun for them too.

My Mom is also coming for a few days, one of which will be her birthday so I'll pick up a cake or something special for her to have in her room when she returns from the park on her birthday. I thought that would be fun for her. I am hoping that the hotel will do this without a problem.

Your plans sound great so far. It's just so much fun planning!!

 

[Patricia721]

I'm pretty sure there's a sunrise safari also that you might want to look into. AKL is a beautiful resort - I think you'll enjoy exploring it!

 

[vladimir10]

Thank you!! Yes, I am going to get a cake for one of our ADR's. I have been thinking about having it delivered at 1900 Park Fare from the beginning. The kids will be with us so it will be fun for them too.

My Mom is also coming for a few days, one of which will be her birthday so I'll pick up a cake or something special for her to have in her room when she returns from the park on her birthday. I thought that would be fun for her. I am hoping that the hotel will do this without a problem.

Your plans sound great so far. It's just so much fun planning!!

That sounds like a lot of fun. I have toyed with the idea of a cake or 2, depending on how things go.

I am enjoying planning a lot, too, but I have to be careful, and not overplan, my wife gets on my case...

 

[vladimir10]

I'm pretty sure there's a sunrise safari also that you might want to look into. AKL is a beautiful resort - I think you'll enjoy exploring it!

Don't you have to be at Club Level to do that?

 

[vladimir10]

Well, we booked our flights last night!

We are scheduled to land at MCO at 11 AM, Sept 19th! So, I am guessing we'll be at AKL/AKV around 12:30 or 1 PM, check in, maybe grab lunch at Boma, hope our room is ready, then either a park or DTD for dinner. We'll see, have to talk it over with the gang.

Hard part is the morning we leave. The flight leaves at 6:15 AM!!!

There was one later (8:15), but there were a few things about it we didn't like:
1: $30 more per person (not a killer, but....more Disney stuff for us!!!)

2: Get to MCO at 2:30 PM, so arrival at AKL/AKV would be 4 to 4:30, not good...

3: A 2.5 hour layover at Charlotte with a 4 year old...

Now, nothing against Charlotte airport, I am sure it's a fine place, but I am fairly sure it would be a rough time with the boy!!!

So, we got a cheap (enter 'dump' here) hotel near the airport for the night before, so it'll be easier.

So, another step in the plan!

I can almost smell that hot, muggy Florida air right now...