October 2013 Our PTR

[kcfc]

Hi there, I have been reading a few trip reports for the last couple of months , trying to get some tips for our trip later this year. Before I get started on what we have organised so far, I'd better introduce us:-

Me:-Fraser 36 years old. Second trip to WDW, after my wife talked me into going there for our honeymoon in October 2006.

Kirsty, my Wife 32 years old. WDW veteran of 4 trips who would go every year if she could.

Neive, my eldest daughter who will have her 6th birthday while we are away

Beth, my youngest daughter who will have her 4th birthday while we are away

Neive and Beth are both nuts about Disney, with Doc McStuffins and Sofia being current favourites
Kirsty still loves Mickey, chip and dale and figment.

My personal favourite has to be Buzz Lightyear

We have booked with Travel City Direct, flying from Manchester on 8th October for two weeks. We are staying at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, which both K and I fell in love with on our honeymoon (although we didn't stay there). Part of the deal was free disney dining so k has spent the last three months checking out reviews and counting down the days until she could book reservations. Here is what we have organised so far:-

Day 1:- Travel to Manchester and stay over in hotel with long stay car parking. Haven't booked anything yet and any advice would be appreciated.

Day 2:- Travel to Florida from Manchester. Have transfers included with deal but considering booking magical express to Animal Kingdom Lodge. Explore hotel and have dinner at Boma. Try and keep kids up as long as possible.

Day 3:- Magic Kingdom for opening. Have also booked whoop de doo review in evening.

Day 4:- Epcot. Havent booked any restaurants as it it the food and wine festival.

Day 5:- NEIVE'S BIRTHDAY. She got to choose today, and has decided that we are going to Chef Mickeyfor breakfast followedby a day at Typhoon Lagoon.

Day 6:- Nothing organised for day yet, but have booked the Mickey and Minnie BBQ in the evening

Day 7:- Nothing organised for day yet but have booked Ohana for evening

Day 8:- Animal Kingdom

Day 9:- Hollywood Studios:-Booked dinner at hollywood and vine, and k really keen to see fantasmic show.

Day 10:- Epcot during day. Booked dinner at Be our Guest in evening

Day 11:- Blizzard Beach

Day 12:- Nothing organised so far, except for dinner at T Rex

Day 13:- Nothing organised.

Day 14:- BETH'S BIRTHDAY. She got to choose what she wanted and has gone for Bibbidy, Bobbity, Boutique at Magic Kingdom in the morning, a day at Magic Kingdom and Cinderella's Castle for dinner.

Day 15:- K and I's Anniversary. We have booked the kids into Simba's Club House for a couple of hours and are having dinner at Jiko.

Day 16:- Fly back to Manchester, get car and drive home.


This will probably change 2 or 3 times over between now and when we leave but at least its a start.

 

[westgrove]

Your plans look great and its fab that you get both DD birthdays in whilst there!!!
We are planning to fly from manchester 28 Sep to 16 Oct but havent booked yet so we're looking too! Im holding out hoping for Virgin/BA sales at the end of May. Vitgin prices were 700pp last time i checked!!!! :-0

 

[scoobydooby]

Hi. Your girls are the perfect age for mickeys back yard BBQ. Took my DD aged 6 and she says it was her best ever day at Disney It is not like other character interaction though its really a bit of a free for all with the kids dancing with the characters. It is worth investing some time in planning your attack.
1 - get there an hour early and keep one adult at the front of the queue to get in. Boring but will pay off later
2 - As soon as you're in walk fast to get a bench table IN FRONT of the dance floor. This is your objective, to be as close to that floor as possible.
3 - When the characters arrive your kids can be first in the rush to trample them and you can see what they are doing from your seat

Trust me. Works like a dream.

Your plans look fun. I'd just caution that your first full day you will wake early and with a 4 and 6 year old they may well then hit the wall before your dinner ADR.

 

[kcfc]

Your plans look great and its fab that you get both DD birthdays in whilst there!!!
We are planning to fly from manchester 28 Sep to 16 Oct but havent booked yet so we're looking too! Im holding out hoping for Virgin/BA sales at the end of May. Vitgin prices were 700pp last time i checked!!!! :-0

We have been lucky that their birthdays are so close. The last time we went was in october, and it was a good time to go, hope you get a good deal.

 

[wilma-bride]

Sounds like you have a great trip planned. We thought Animal Kingdom Lodge was a wonderful place, very beautiful. I'm sure you will love staying there

 

[kcfc]

Hi. Your girls are the perfect age for mickeys back yard BBQ. Took my DD aged 6 and she says it was her best ever day at Disney It is not like other character interaction though its really a bit of a free for all with the kids dancing with the characters. It is worth investing some time in planning your attack.
1 - get there an hour early and keep one adult at the front of the queue to get in. Boring but will pay off later
2 - As soon as you're in walk fast to get a bench table IN FRONT of the dance floor. This is your objective, to be as close to that floor as possible.
3 - When the characters arrive your kids can be first in the rush to trample them and you can see what they are doing from your seat

Trust me. Works like a dream.

Your plans look fun. I'd just caution that your first full day you will wake early and with a 4 and 6 year old they may well then hit the wall before your dinner ADR.

Thanks for the advice. Think the kids will enjoy the BBQ, but was a bit worried that it will be too busy. How busy is it? Think you are probably right about the first day. We were only going to go to MK for the morning, and then coming back to the hotel to let the kids relax. That's the plan anyway.

 

[kcfc]

Sounds like you have a great trip planned. We thought Animal Kingdom Lodge was a wonderful place, very beautiful. I'm sure you will love staying there

We went there for dinner during our honeymoon and thought it was stunning. Only worry I have is the distance from the others parks, but pretty sure the kids will be too excited in the morning to care, and too tired in the afternoon to bother.

 

[scoobydooby]

Thanks for the advice. Think the kids will enjoy the BBQ, but was a bit worried that it will be too busy. How busy is it? Think you are probably right about the first day. We were only going to go to MK for the morning, and then coming back to the hotel to let the kids relax. That's the plan anyway.

It's very busy and that's why you need to sit as close to the dance floor as possible. It's also all in alcohol which means the parental supervision of some parents decreases as the night progresses...... Great fun for small children though.

 

[kcfc]

Only three weeks to go until we are at AKL. We have personalised our magic bands, confirmed our seats on the flight, completed estas and checked our travel insurance. Our tickets arrived last week and we are good to go. Can't wait.