1 Child and 10 Adults--A GG to Celebrate DD's 4th Bday :) TR Link is Posted

[Sleepingbooty]

thanks Rebecca! No problem--I have been missing in action too. I just caught up with your PTR earlier. There are so many good characters and movies--I have really enjoyed reading everyone's lists.

Thank you!! I am excited but I have more to go!

Well, I'm sure I'm leaving something out, but here goes:

Top five Characters (in no particular order):
1. Mickey
2. Minnie
3. Tinkerbelle
4. Nemo
5. Jessie

Top five Movies (also not in order - that'd take me another week to decide!)
1. Toy Story 1 & 2
2. Mary Poppins
3. 101 Dalmations
4. The Little Mermaid
5. The Lion King

 

[Charlefours]

Glad the mini trip gave you some insights. Advance planning is always good. We did a lot of snacks to avoid melt downs. There was not to much napping-but we did have down time.

The trip has been good in that regards. Especially with having insights on how she is going to travel. What type of snacks do you keep in the car?

Well, I'm sure I'm leaving something out, but here goes:

Top five Characters (in no particular order):
1. Mickey
2. Minnie
3. Tinkerbelle
4. Nemo
5. Jessie

Top five Movies (also not in order - that'd take me another week to decide!)
1. Toy Story 1 & 2
2. Mary Poppins
3. 101 Dalmations
4. The Little Mermaid
5. The Lion King

Thank you for participating Rebecca! I reserved the right to change mine since we have been watching Disney movies together once a week. I am watching some I have not seen in ages.

 

[Cory's Gal]

Sounds like the "trial-run" trip has been really helpful for your Disney planning Stephanie! I wish I could "practice" the airport and flying on an airplane with the kids. Gabe's last flight was age 2 and Helen has never flown before so it will be an interesting experience! Thankfully my parents will be with so we have to extra sets of hands!!

 

[Charlefours]

Sounds like the "trial-run" trip has been really helpful for your Disney planning Stephanie! I wish I could "practice" the airport and flying on an airplane with the kids. Gabe's last flight was age 2 and Helen has never flown before so it will be an interesting experience! Thankfully my parents will be with so we have to extra sets of hands!!

Hi Beth! Indeed, the trip has been nice to help bring some possible concerns/issues to the forefront before we head off to Disney. I am sure the extra hands will help keep the flight manageable for you. Do you allow Gabe to chew sugar free gum? That may help with his ears. Poor Helen, other than drinking, I am not sure if anything would help her.

You leave so soon!!

 

[Charlefours]

Oh no! I just read on Walt Disney World Characters that Ariel is no longer going to be at Ariel’s Grotto staring on April 11th. DD will be devastated if she does not get to meet her. Luckily we will be eating at Akershus so she will meet her there but she really wants to see her wearing her tail. It also states that rumor has it that the Princesses, the Fairies, Mickey and Minnie will be relocating to Exposition Hall—which I had heard earlier. This website states they will be trial running it during the spring and make the permanent transition there in the Fall once the construction begins in TT closes. Other character changes: Goofy will be in Adventureland dressed as a Pirate. Pooh and Tigger will be at the Train Station in TT until May, then they will move to the Town Square on May 9th. Ariel (dressed as a Princess instead of a mermaid) and possibly Prince Eric will be on the Veranda in Adventureland. Seems like they could begin sooner rather than later on the expansion if the relocation of characters makes less and less people venture to TT.

For all my DIS friends who are going from here until the beginning of September—I will be really looking for information on the Fantasyland expansion and character spots. I thought everything I have been reading (I even looked some more today for reports) said Fall 2010 for the changes to begin. I was hoping we might luck out since we are going before Fall actually begins and relatively early in Fall season at Disney. I sure hope I can appeal to those going before us for them to let me know how things are going. Exposition Hall is in the front of MK so we will definitely hit it first on Lilian’s birthday. We will be there anyways unless they move the location for BBB photo shoot. We would just begin by waiting there first thing to meet the characters before moving into MK farther for the rides.

TIA for being my eyes these next few months!!!

 

[jenny105]

I hope she gets to meet the mermaid version of Ariel! They have to relocate her somewhere. I'm happy about Goofy the pirate though

I started my PTR. The link is in my siggy!

 

[kcandbella]

Well of course I will let you know how it goes for us, but I doubt I will be much help. Some of the changes are taking place in April, but a lot of the characters are shifting on May 9th. That is our departure day and we are not planning on going into the parks! So we may not even get to meet Ariel at all, as her move to the Veranda isn't schduled to begin until then. And we are not going to Akershus. I doubt Bella will care all that much, as she is not that into Ariel (more into Belle, Cinderella, Aurora, the Fairies, and of course TIANA) but I would be very disappointed if she were. I am excited that it seems the Up characters will still be at DHS when we are there. Even though I am a little disappointed by some of the changes, I keep thinking about the trip we will take FOR SURE in '12 or '13 to see the new FL and how great it will be!

 

[Charlefours]

I hope she gets to meet the mermaid version of Ariel! They have to relocate her somewhere. I'm happy about Goofy the pirate though

I started my PTR. The link is in my siggy!

I do too but it does not look like it is going to happen. If they close Ariel's Grotto and do not open it again there is no other location at this point that will have Ariel as a mermaid.

I subbed and commented!

 

[Charlefours]

Well of course I will let you know how it goes for us, but I doubt I will be much help. Some of the changes are taking place in April, but a lot of the characters are shifting on May 9th. That is our departure day and we are not planning on going into the parks! So we may not even get to meet Ariel at all, as her move to the Veranda isn't schduled to begin until then. And we are not going to Akershus. I doubt Bella will care all that much, as she is not that into Ariel (more into Belle, Cinderella, Aurora, the Fairies, and of course TIANA) but I would be very disappointed if she were. I am excited that it seems the Up characters will still be at DHS when we are there. Even though I am a little disappointed by some of the changes, I keep thinking about the trip we will take FOR SURE in '12 or '13 to see the new FL and how great it will be!

Thanks Kayce! When I read that, I realized that it is big changes happening when you are going to be there. Would you have time to run to MK in the morning? I am so glad that have left out Tiana!! That way Bella can meet her favorite Princess.

We definitely will be planning on going back in '12 or '13 too. I just hope it is as magical as it seems it will be. With another few years too it will be interesting to see what Bella and Lilian like since they are fairly similar right now.

 

[Charlefours]

The second concern I want feedback on if you care to comment is about Night of Joy. It is scheduled to move back to MK after being in DHS the last few years. There are several bigger bands slated to be performing on the 11th—our first day there.

I really want Lilian’s first experience of Disney to be MK. We are scheduled to go there Saturday after we arrive. MK closes at 6:00 p.m. to all guests who do not have Night of Joy tickets. Night of Joy ticket holders can start coming in at 4:00 p.m. Am I insane for still wanting to go to MK that day?

Here is what I am mulling over in my head, schedule wise:

Leave Valdosta, GA at 8:00 a.m. and drive straight to POR—no stops for groceries. If we do not stop, it would take about 4 hours to get to POR. We would probably be able to get to MK around 1:00 p.m. That is no lunch stop either—we would have to pick something up in the park. We have the credits to use as long as we stick to CS that day.​

That is best case scenario. If we are dragging, we may not get off until 9:00 a.m. That would put us there about 1:00, then at the park at 2:00. Of course, our room may not be ready so we may be able to get to the park much faster than an hour. What do you all think about this?​

DHS has EMH until 9:00 p.m. and EP is open until 9:00 p.m. as well. DTD is always an option too—we are considering going to MK until it closes, than off to DTD if we have the energy or back to the resort for swimming. Sunday we are off to DHS, early to get a few things knocked out right away with a break late morning until 3:00 when we go back to DHS and stay through F! We do not want to be up too late on Saturday.​

What do you think—what should we do? I really do not want to give up Lilian’s first experience being MK because that is what she thinks of when talking about Disney. Help!!

 

[jenny105]

I would still shoot for MK. The first thing she has to see is the castle. If I were in your shoes, nothing would stop me from taking her there first thing! You'll have a few hours in the park and I'm sure you planned time to go back and see everything you miss on your first day. I say go for it!

 

[gallmcduck]

I would def go to MK even if it's just for that first disney look and then back to hotel or DTD for some relaxation and walk around shops. You may want to just take it all. Taking it all in, in a sort of relaxing way, all the headline stuff will be there for next visit. Bonus would be fitting some attractions in

 

[Dancegrl624]

Is Disney guaranteeing that Ariel will be Akershus? Because when we went there last Jan (2009), we saw Princess Aurora, Princess Jasmine, Snow White and Mary Poppins (and Belle of course). I'm not trying to be the bearer of bad news or anything, I swear! Have you checked out the "official fantasyland expansion q & a" thread? They have TONS of info about everything and they update it whenever they can.

 

[MHTeacher]

That stinks about not being able to have an up close visit with Ariel as a mermaid! Maybe Disney will work something out to move her. I will definitely keep my eyes open while I'm there at the end of May.

Now, on the first day question.......One thought I had was it might be upsetting to Lilian if you got to MK and had to turn around and leave so quickly. If you get there at 2 and have to be out by 4 that's really not a lot of Disney time, especially in the middle of the afternoon, while crowds are thicker.

Now, you could go in, see the castle, watch the afternoon parade, and then leave. That might work.

 

[Charlefours]

The first day all I would hope to accomplish would be to get to MK, buy ears for our family, get a couple photopass pictures with Castle shots (with and without the ears) and just walk around and absorb that magical Disney feeling (and stretch our legs ). If we can get on rides that would be a perk.

I would still shoot for MK. The first thing she has to see is the castle. If I were in your shoes, nothing would stop me from taking her there first thing! You'll have a few hours in the park and I'm sure you planned time to go back and see everything you miss on your first day. I say go for it!

I really do want her first visit to the actual parks to be MK to see the Castle.

I would def go to MK even if it's just for that first disney look and then back to hotel or DTD for some relaxation and walk around shops. You may want to just take it all. Taking it all in, in a sort of relaxing way, all the headline stuff will be there for next visit. Bonus would be fitting some attractions in

Not so much about how much we can get done but soaking it up like you said!

Is Disney guaranteeing that Ariel will be Akershus? Because when we went there last Jan (2009), we saw Princess Aurora, Princess Jasmine, Snow White and Mary Poppins (and Belle of course). I'm not trying to be the bearer of bad news or anything, I swear! Have you checked out the "official fantasyland expansion q & a" thread? They have TONS of info about everything and they update it whenever they can.

The last several reports I have read, Ariel has been there. Mary Poppins, on the other hand, I have only read I think one report of her being there.

That stinks about not being able to have an up close visit with Ariel as a mermaid! Maybe Disney will work something out to move her. I will definitely keep my eyes open while I'm there at the end of May.

Now, on the first day question.......One thought I had was it might be upsetting to Lilian if you got to MK and had to turn around and leave so quickly. If you get there at 2 and have to be out by 4 that's really not a lot of Disney time, especially in the middle of the afternoon, while crowds are thicker.

Now, you could go in, see the castle, watch the afternoon parade, and then leave. That might work.

I wrote above what my hopes are for that first day. MK closes at 6:00 to non-NOJ ticket holders.

Thank you for scouting for me!! I would really appreciate it.

 

[lbuzz52]

Gotta do mk first. Many non-hoppers will avoid it because of the early closing. So maybe it won't be too busy. You should be able to accomplish your goals and a couple rides I would think. Just get your kttw and go!
I hate all the changes for you- all the limbo.
And I'm saving for 12/13 too. I'm betting the deals will be few and far between because it seems everyone is excited about the improvements.

 

[lexmas]

The changes are all tough. Thanks for the update about all the characters. Seems like this fall is a tough time to travel this year!

 

[Dancegrl624]

The last several reports I have read, Ariel has been there. Mary Poppins, on the other hand, I have only read I think one report of her being there.

I do know that Ariel is at Akershus sometimes. I've read that she'll be appearing at CRT and Akershus until she moves to the Adventureland Veranda, but certain characters aren't guaranteed to be a character meals. Here's a post from the Fantasyland expansion thread:

Yep, Ariel is theoretically replacing Jasmine (at CRT and Akershus). Of course, no princess is a guarantee at either dining location, but that's going to be the new trend starting April 12th.

 

[kcandbella]

Yep, Ariel is theoretically replacing Jasmine (at CRT and Akershus). Of course, no princess is a guarantee at either dining location, but that's going to be the new trend starting April 12th.

This is good to know. Especially since Jasmine is available for meet and greets in the WS and by the Magic Carpets. I would rather meet Ariel than her at CRT (only because there are other options for J).

As for MK the first day, I was pretty set on that, too. I want the MK to be first and also last. It will always be the most "Disney" to me, and I want to pass that along. If you think it is do-able to get there in time, I would go for it. You wouldn't be interested in buying tickets to the special event? It would cost more but at least you could stay longer...just an idea.

 

[jenny105]

This is good to know. Especially since Jasmine is available for meet and greets in the WS and by the Magic Carpets. I would rather meet Ariel than her at CRT (only because there are other options for J).

As for MK the first day, I was pretty set on that, too. I want the MK to be first and also last. It will always be the most "Disney" to me, and I want to pass that along. If you think it is do-able to get there in time, I would go for it. You wouldn't be interested in buying tickets to the special event? It would cost more but at least you could stay longer...just an idea.

That is my ritual whenever I visit the World!