Do they serve wine on the Magical Express? October 2011 --- We're back! TR started!

[Shannon84]

Welcome everyone to my first ever Pre Trip Report (well our first Pre Trip Report, but I'm in charge )….after completing my first Trip Report last year, I can’t stay away!! Most of you know me from my comments on your own individual Trip Reports

If you followed along with my Trip Report last year, you know all about the numerous adult meltdowns I encountered! That attitude started before we left and followed us home. We mutually decided the relationship hadn’t been working and we parted ways. No worries though, this wasn’t a Debbie downer sort of thing, it was all for the best and very positive!

So what’s a single girl to do when looking to date again…why not check out the DISboards…I didn't expect anything to happen honestly. I clicked through a thread of "single's profiles" all the way back to October of 2010 posts when one caught my eye. I sent a message and well it all unfolded from there. Tim lives near Roanoke, Virginia which is 3 hours away from me (in Richmond, Virginia). Luckily his parents live in the Richmond area and its where he went to school including college, so he is back to visit often. We set up a "blind date" to have dinner and see a movie one weekend. I don’t think we have gone a day without talking since that first message was sent and we have been dating since the day we met for dinner a few months ago.

I guess this would be a good time to introduce the cast of this PTR...

You may know me already, the name is Shannon and I just turned 27 on April 1st...and I am Disney World obsessed (self diagnosed). When I am not at Disney I am working full time as a Financial Investigator for the Virginia Attorney General. I have been going to WDW since the age of 7 or so and have gone more times than I remember I am guessing somewhere around 10 times. I even worked there at EPCOT (Living with the Land) and MGM (it was still called that - at Playhouse Disney and Little Mermaid shows) in the summer of 2007.

Favorite Park - The ability to make a decision is an issue...they all have a soft spot in my heart...I guess I will just have to stick with Magic Kingdom to spare you the long explanation of why I like each park

Favorite Rides - Splash Mountain, Haunted Mansion, Tower of Terror, and more (I'll stop there before I start making you a list of every ride at Disney)

And now introducing... Tim or Timothy or GuapoTimmy as you will find him on the boards, 25 years old and works full time as a Child Protective Services Social Worker. He comes from a Disney loving family so he understands and loves the crazy planning process. He started visiting Disney World with his parents back when he was only 2....aww how cute! Actually his mom did give me an adorable picture of him with Goofy from when he was younger...I may have to find a scanner to share that one!! He has visited WDW 5 times, with his latest visit being in December of 2010...he did a few days at the parks and then went on a 4 day cruise on the Disney Wonder...which he won through a DIS Unplugged Podcast!

Favorite Park - Magic Kingdom

Favorite Rides - Haunted Mansion, Splash Mountain, and Dinosaur



"Chapter" Links

1.How the trip came to be!
2. A plan is formulated and resort chosen
3. What should we eat with our wine?!?
4. Life Update - Moving in!
5. Aladdin Theme night
6.Bolt Theme night
7. Pirates Theme night
8.Half marathon with fellow DISers!
9.Hercules Theme night
10. Jungle Book Theme Night and Vinylmations!
11.Monsters,Inc. Theme night and other exciting news!
12.Double Digit Dance!!
13.To go or not to go (to Typhoon Lagoon that is) and our Twilight Zone night
14.A Big old mix of Disney fun
15. First Day Plans!
16. A Bugs Life theme night
17. Day 2 plans
18. Do we have an extra room for all the Disney stuff?
19. Lilo & Stitch theme night
20.Day 3 plans
21.Ratatoullie Theme night
22.Day 4 plans
23.Day 5 Plans
24.Theme nights and life
25.Day 6 plans
26.Day 7 plans
27.Day 8 plans (departure day)
28.Marathon registration
29. Princess Theme nights
30.Last 2 theme nights! 3 days until we leave!
31. Off we go!

 

[Nermel9]

I'm here! Can you figure out how to do chapter links, or did I totally confuse you?

 

[Shannon84]

I'm here! Can you figure out how to do chapter links, or did I totally confuse you?

Well first let me say thank you sooooo much for replying back with that response and so quick!! I am still trying to figure it out, I think with some trial and error I may be able to get it...if I go missing thats what happened to me and send help

 

[Nermel9]

I'm guessing you want the chapter links in that first post of the PTR right? Well, I might have forgot to tell you to click where you want the chapter to show up first, before you add the link...like, if you want the chapters under Tim's favorite rides, since that's the last thing you posted, you have to click under there first, otherwise when you add the link, it will just show up right at the beginning of your post.

Although, I'm not sure if that's the problem your having. I kind of had to mess around with it too, before I figured it out!

 

[Native NYer]

Joining in!
Love your ptr title.

 

[redlight]

I'm in.

 

[Shannon84]

I'm guessing you want the chapter links in that first post of the PTR right? Well, I might have forgot to tell you to click where you want the chapter to show up first, before you add the link...like, if you want the chapters under Tim's favorite rides, since that's the last thing you posted, you have to click under there first, otherwise when you add the link, it will just show up right at the beginning of your post.

Although, I'm not sure if that's the problem your having. I kind of had to mess around with it too, before I figured it out!

Oh my gosh, it gets even more complicated?!?!?

Joining in!
Love your ptr title.

Thank you!! I would like to take credit, but that was Tim's idea

I'm in.

Thank you for joining!!

 

[Nermel9]

Oh my gosh, it gets even more complicated?!?!?

LOL...it's not complicated once you figure it out! I probably just explained it badly...you might want to ask someone else!

 

[Shannon84]

Before I get started side note - I added "Chapter Links" on the original post to follow along with...with some amazing help from Nermel9 - Thank you Jen!!

Sooo how this trip came to be…

Tim asked if I was interested in spending some time in Washington D.C. He had to go up to judge a MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) event (fights) up there and I am less than 2 hours away from there and have only been twice! So I agreed, it sounded like a good time to do some sightseeing. It was the start of the Cherry Blossom Festival as well…so pretty during that time

Tim ended up not having to judge that event, so we turned it into a weekend getaway (Our first trip away together ok maybe not that scary). He booked us a hotel and planned out a nice dinner for us for one evening. It was a BEAUTIFUL hotel, we ate at a fancy Italian restaurant, and visited lots of museums including the American History Museum…where…I found my buddy…

Ok so what does DC have to do with Disney? Even before our weekend trip we had been joking around back and forth about how fun it would be to take a trip to WDW together After we realized we enjoyed our long weekend away and didn’t annoy each other…we talked more seriously about visiting WDW. We met on the DISboards…why wouldn’t we want to go there?

Here we are smiling away on my birthday

We went back and forth between Halloween and Christmas times ….after careful consideration we chose our dates…October 16 – 23, 2011!! We went ahead and took the plunge one weekend booking the trip!! Of course we pretty much immediately started planning

We chose late October so we can do MNSSHP which neither of us have been able to do before and also this will be Tim’s first time during the Food and Wine Festival!



Up Next: Where we are staying and where we are eating

 

[Shannon84]

LOL...it's not complicated once you figure it out! I probably just explained it badly...you might want to ask someone else!

Well look at us!! With your wonderful help I did it!!! Now too bad I didn't make a seperate post for it but thats ok!!

 

[redlight]

Great picture of you two smiling.

 

[Queenofallthings]

Great start...can't wait to read all about your plans

 

[Shannon84]

Great picture of you two smiling.

Thank you

Great start...can't wait to read all about your plans

YAY!! I am glad you came on over to my report, I have been enjoying yours!!

 

[jenneth79]

I'm in! As a fellow Virginian, I look forward to reading about your plans and trip!

Funny, we keep on trying to move down your way (Well, Charlottesville) to escape the NoVA traffic nightmare! Is it quite as bad in Richmond?

 

[Shannon84]

I'm in! As a fellow Virginian, I look forward to reading about your plans and trip!

Funny, we keep on trying to move down your way (Well, Charlottesville) to escape the NoVA traffic nightmare! Is it quite as bad in Richmond?

Glad to have you!!! I just got myself caught up on your PTR!

I am from Massachusetts originally, but I really do love the Richmond area now (took a little time ) I work in downtown Richmond and I HATE driving (in general) and it really isn't too bad at all...its a busy commute..but I am always moving at the speed limit at least (no stop and go craziness)...I'm thinking much easier than NoVa

 

[TanzUnited99]

Hi Shannon! Am joining in - loved reading the story about how you and DBF met!

Your title pulled me in and I love the buddy you met at the museum!

 

[Nermel9]

Yay so happy you figured out the chapter links! The only thing I cannot figure out that drives me nuts, is how to get the chapter link to be the same color as the other font you're using, it's always black, no matter what I try! But it's a small thing, as long as the links work, that's all I care about!

I can't believe I'm missing you by a week! It would have been fun to meet up and hang out at the Food and Wine festival!

 

[Shannon84]

Hi Shannon! Am joining in - loved reading the story about how you and DBF met!

Your title pulled me in and I love the buddy you met at the museum!

Thanks!! I am so glad to have you reading along!!

Yay so happy you figured out the chapter links! The only thing I cannot figure out that drives me nuts, is how to get the chapter link to be the same color as the other font you're using, it's always black, no matter what I try! But it's a small thing, as long as the links work, that's all I care about!

I can't believe I'm missing you by a week! It would have been fun to meet up and hang out at the Food and Wine festival!

I couldn't figure that out either even though I got my PTR link in my signature to change color, don't know how to do it with the chapter links

I know, it would be great to meet you guys!! I think you need to tell Brandon that you need another week of vacation...then you guys can try AKL that week I don't think I remember reading in any of your reports where you guys are from?

 

[Shannon84]

So I suppose you are on the edge of your seats wondering where we are staying and what we have planned so far!

We are staying at….drum roll please….

(Photo courtesy of the internet)


Shannon why are you showing us this sign on the backside of POP’s lobby? Because that’s the view I will have while I am drinking a margarita in the Hippity Dippity Pool, that’s why!!

We knew it would be a value resort for us and POP was the only option in our minds…though I have never tried the other values so I have no comparison, I just love POP for some reason!

Here is what we have planned for each day so far….

Sunday October 16th – Arrival day!!!! Fly into Orlando from Richmond…take Magical Express to POP! (still wishing they would give me some wine during this trip…just sayin’ it’s the Food and Wine festival season and all…geez ) and checking in. We are going to walk around Downtown Disney that afternoon, have lunch there, and then getting ourselves ready for MNSSHP that evening!

Monday October 17th – EPCOT - no real game plan, just enjoying the park and making a mad dash for Soarin’ like everyone else! Hopefully catching Illuminations that night

Tuesday October 18th – DHS – Mad dash to TSM, followed by whatever else we feel like doing (I like those kinds of plans sometimes) We decided to skip Fantasmic! on this trip. We have seen it before and while we agree it’s an amazing show…we just don’t want to deal with the crowds that come along with it

Wednesday October 19th – Magic Kingdom – this will be our full day of MK fun…there is so much to see and do here (plus its Tim’s favorite and tied as my favorite with EPCOT and DHS, with AK right behind those ) We also wanted to go on a night with no MNSSHP so that we can see the regular version of Wishes

Thursday October 20th – Our “rest day” … rest on vacation?!? I know it’s absurd!! We may try to go to Typhoon Lagoon for part of the day…otherwise time will be spent lounging in the pool with a drink in my hand, relaxing

Friday October 21st- Our second day at EPCOT – hitting up whatever we missed earlier in the week… taking our time walking around the Food and Wine Festival

Saturday October 22nd – Animal Kingdom – We will probably finish with this park fairly quickly, if so may ride a few favorites over again at other parks

Sunday October 23rd – Departure day Wake up…cry a little…check bags for our flight home…cry a little …visit MK for a few hours of magic before we have to return home…start planning for next trip on flight home (ok maybe not…but a girl can dream)



Up Next: We formulated a plan...let the ADR craziness begin!

 

[KatMark]

Shannon, I had NO idea you had a PTR going. But I'm here now, off to lunch and then I'll be back to read later this afternoon/tonight and catch up.