Mom, Me and The Mouse - WDW September 2012

[KeroKero]

Since my last itinerary post ADR's have changed, but the overall flow of each day remains the same!

For our 7th day we're planning a morning at Magic Kingdom this is subject to change, and probably will because we may have exhausted all we've wanted to do there by now.

If we are returning it will be to grab some autographs with characters we might have missed/haven't had the chance to meet in the past (Merida, Rapunzel, Prince Eric for sure) and to see the Celebrate A Dream Parade, which in our many trips we've never seen . Also, would love to try the Sorcerers of The Magic Kingdom card trading game.

While these are things I want to experience, they don't constitute a definite having to return to Magic Kingdom for the day. We'll most likely decide what to do for sure this day the night before.

For the evening we have dinner reservations at Kouzzina. Found it funny that this week Cat Cora got a DUI ... never would have pegged her for a DUI sorta gal!

Anyhow ... after dinner we'll have time to stroll back over to EP from The Boardwalk via the International Gateway, grab a cocktail or two and find a good spot to watch Illuminations (originally this was slated for Day 6, but its been moved to here cause we won't be at EP the night before). EP also has evening EMH that night til midnight, so it'll be nice to stroll around the park and hit a couple extra attractions before we get on the bus to go back to the resort.

ALSO - My most favourite store in all of The World is Mouse Works (yes I prefer this store over World of Disney) so we usually spend a fair amount of time in there on our way out. Nothing beats a bit of shopping before bed

 

[KeroKero]

I finally scored an 'Ohana's reservation this morning!

I'm so HAPPY!!!! Persistence paid off this time around.

I've cancelled 1900 Park Fare and taken a 7:55pm seating at 'Ohanas. Oh joy, oh bliss!! I can't believe how happy I am about this.

Now .... am thinking to change our Kona Kafe reservation on arrival day (two Polynesian meals might be overkill) to either Grand Floridian Cafe or The Wave. More choices, but who cares cause I'm going to 'Ohana's!!!

 

[emmysmommy]

Hooray for 'Ohana!! We'll be having dinner there for the first time next trip! I can't wait to see what all of the excitement and buzz is all about personally.

I like the idea of swapping Kona for GFC. I like the ambiance and feel of GFC over The Wave (no windows, dark, no real theming... that's just me.)

 

[disney-inspired]

I finally scored an 'Ohana's reservation this morning!

I'm so HAPPY!!!! Persistence paid off this time around.

I've cancelled 1900 Park Fare and taken a 7:55pm seating at 'Ohanas. Oh joy, oh bliss!! I can't believe how happy I am about this.

Now .... am thinking to change our Kona Kafe reservation on arrival day (two Polynesian meals might be overkill) to either Grand Floridian Cafe or The Wave. More choices, but who cares cause I'm going to 'Ohana's!!!

That's great!
It took me awhile to get 'Ohana and just last night I found an earlier ADR than 9:30pm so I canceled my previous one and made one for 6:25pm

 

[KeroKero]

That's great!
It took me awhile to get 'Ohana and just last night I found an earlier ADR than 9:30pm so I canceled my previous one and made one for 6:25pm

So exciting when you score and ADR you've been trying to get for so long!

I tell people all the time to keep at those ADR's. In time you're bound to get something. Better to know that you tried and tried and tired to get the reservation that you wanted than to not have tried at all.

 

[KeroKero]

I was out shopping last week and came across the cutest Minnie inspired watch at Wal-Mart. For $10 I had to pick it up. Going to use it for my trip. It' a slap on, so instead of wearing it on my wrist (it would make me sweat) I'm going to slap it to my bag strap for easy access.

New watch aside, my My Magical Express Maill arrived this past Friday (37 days before departure). Always great to walk up the driveway and see the UPS package sitting at the front door. Now to wait for the more fun Mickey Mail!

 

[emmysmommy]

You got your luggage tags! Yay!

What a cute Minnie watch. And such a great idea to strap it to your bag! Very clever indeed!

 

[KeroKero]

My final MICKEY MAIL arrived yesterday! Always much more exciting to open the mail box and see anything other than bills.

With only 25 days left to do before departure I've also started tossing into things into a suitcase. I'm at the bare minimum now but shortly will start packing for real to ensure that I don't forget a single thing.

Will also need to pre-pack my park bag and toss it in my suitcase, so in case our room isn't ready when we get there I can just grab it out of my suitcase and hit the parks without delay! (sorry the pic is so dark )

Packing excites me, regardless if its for Disney or anywhere. I'll write on my packing strategies and what I do and do not take with me soon enough. Plus I'll give a detailed run down of what I carry into the parks as I prepare my park bag.

 

[emmysmommy]

Yay for packing and double YAY for final Mickey mail. They've changed the luggage tags to cool Mickey's from the last time we got those. Very nice.

I am very interested to see what you pack in your park bag!!

Happy packing and counting down!

 

[KeroKero]

As I'm only a few weeks away from departure, and I casually toss things into the suitcase I have sitting on the floor of my bedroom - I know that one thing that needs careful thought and planning is: MY PARK BAG!

I always have my park bag packed before we leave home, so that soon as we get to our resort, I can just grab it from my suitcase and hit the parks without delay. I find that this is especially important so as to not waste time apart from magical express, checking in, unpacking etc. When its time for fun, its time for fun!!

My bag generally consists of two "packing" ideas if you will. There's the things that are solely packed in case of emergency and there are those things that are packed because I just want/need to have them with me.

I keep a small travel pouch in my cross body bag for the emergency items which consist of deodorant, roll on perfume stick, pepto, reactine, advil, lotion, sunblock, tide pen, bandaids, mole skin, and surface sanitizer (for cleaning off tables at CS locations).

As many things as that sounds to carry around with you on a daily basis, they all necessary if certain scenarios arise. In my opinion, its better to be safe and prepared than be sorry. Everything fits nicely into the small travel pouch that I use.

As for the other items in my bag: camera, autograph book (yes, I'm over 30 and I still collect autographs ) rain jacket, chapstick, hand sanitizer, tissue, ziploc bags of different sizes, extra hair ties and my cell phone. I carry my credit card, KTTW and cash in a small 2 pocket wallet (not pictured, as I forgot it at my parents house)

All above mentioned things, fit nicely into my new cross body bag and the bag isn't heavy at all. In fact I think its much lighter than the purse I carry around everyday in my day to day life.

With my park bag packed (and I'm glad to know that everything I need/want in there fits) now I can fully concentrate on actual packing packing, which is a challenge all in itself!

 

[KeroKero]

It's almost departure day, and I couldn't be more excited.

Mom and I were out and about last week and managed to score two aluminum Mickey water bottles for 4.99!! They even come in a case with a strap for easy use. They're going to be great in the parks! I love sales at the Disney Store!

I'm all packed and ready to go, wish Sunday would hurry up and get here!

I should have the time to write a few posts while I'm at WDW...so stay tuned!