The Pink Side of the Force ~ May 2014 ~ Are we there yet? (Updated 3/21)

[Tasmen]

I figured I'd start a pre-trip report to help me with my raging case of 'are we there yets'. Six months seems like a long time and I am just so eager and impatient and want all the traveling now.

So about us...

Me aka Julie. I work in the tech industry in Seattle and have a love of all things Disney and Star Wars. I've been going to Disney (be it DL or WDW) since I was a little girl.

DH aka Jeremiah aka butthead (my name for him). He was never a huge Disney fan until I took him to DL for the first time after we were married. He loves going nearly as much as I do now. He is also a gigantic Star Wars nerd. (I'm sure you can see where this is going).

DD aka Eliska aka Princess Palpatine. She will be turning 6 just before our trip, loves her princesses and the Super Hero (Her name for Darth Vader. She has called him that since she was 2 because of his cape and we have not bothered to correct her )

Mom aka Momo aka Queen Maybelle. She came with us on our last WDW trip and had a blast. She's coming to dote on the Princess and insist that we have a never ending supply of room snacks. I have never seen someone need cheese crackers in their room quite as much as my mom. Her need for cheezits is only rivaled by her addiction to diet coke.

A few pictures...

Random shot at the Halloween Party at DL in 2012, thus her nickname Princess Palpatine.

DH with the Princess and her Momo at AKL.

She did that thing with her hand on her own. Princess pose!

Family shot with the Super hero. E was so excited to meet him until she saw him. Then she wasn't so sure Didn't stop her from calling him the Super Hero all the same.

DH and myself on the boat on the way from Epcot to HS in 2011.

Our plan!
We have stayed at the Poly our last couple trips but have been itching to stay at the AKL for a very long time. We are finally going to do it! We booked CL so that we could, also, go on the Sunrise Safari. DD loves animals and I feel like this will be a special treat for her.

When better to go than for DD birthday again AND what we hope will be another Star Wars weekend. We had so much fun on our last trip to WDW when it coincided with a Star Wars weekend. We wanted to relive that magic again!

 

[Tasmen]

ADRS? I got your ADRs right here, buddy...

We arriving on May 20th and staying one night at the Animation resort so that we do not lose a full day at the parks due to the whole west to east coast all day travel event.

5/20
Raglan Road (dinner)

5/21
Coral Reef (lunch)
Spirit of Aloha (dinner)

5/22
Crystal Palace (lunch)
Tony's Town Square (dinner) - we wanted BOG for this night but no luck

5/23
50's Prime Time (lunch)
California Grill (dinner) - adult time only. DD is going to the kid's club at the AKL

5/24
CRT (breakfast)
Boma (dinner)

5/25
Sunrise Safari!!!!!!
Fantasmic Dinner Show w/dinner @ Brown Derby

5/26
Princess Tea for DD & Me (so excited for this)
BOG (dinner) - managed to get BOG for this night instead
Dessert Fireworks show

5/27
Chef Mickey's - breakfast
Liberty Tree Tavern - lunch

I am considering swapping some stuff around and am curious about opinions. We had never gone to Tony's before and wanted to try it. But now, after reading some trip reviews, I'm considering changing that to the Hoop Dee dinner & show instead. We'd need to do the later dining time to make it work with our touring plans. How long does the show usually run?

Also on our last day, I'm thinking of cancelling Chef Mickey's (which I initially typed as Cher Mickey's which I imagine would be a WHOLE other kind of experience ), and making that the Kona Cafe instead. We do love our Kona Cafe.

 

[wiigirl]

Following along!

 

[Tasmen]

How many times will I change my mind about ADRs before our trip time starts in May? A gazzillion!

Already today I have booked BOG for one day instead of another, gone back to the original day and booked Hoop-Dee-Doo. New plans are as follows....

5/22, instead of dinner at Tony's, we are going to go to Hoop-Dee. I also moved our BOG dinner to 45 minutes later than it was originally so that it is at a more appropriate dinner hour.

My new doubts/possible changes revolve around California Grill. We love that restaurant, but I've been very disappointed at some of the reviews I've read of it since the refurb. There are places we have wanted to try and have not in the past in favor of CG. Wondering if I should swap that for Yachtsman Steakhouse instead or just go back to Jiko.

I cannot make up my mind!

 

[Tasmen]

Looking at etsy for princess ideas and ran across the custom made autograph books. They are glorious. Not to attempt to make one myself (if I can get in tune with my inner crafty self) for DD.

And while I wasn't occupying myself looking at etsy, I went and booked a carriage ride for the night we are doing Hoop-Dee!

 

[Tasmen]

Following along!

Doh! Missed this. Hi!

 

[Tasmen]

In prep for the trip, I'm going to attempt to sew some outfits for my DD before we arrive. I want to make her a skirt for Hoop-Dee-Doo and possibly a dress or two for dinners. I have sewed before but mostly stuff that didn't have to survive the wear and tear of a 6 year old

Anyone reading have suggestions on good patterns to use for a ruffle/western skirt for a little girl?

 

[Tasmen]

Latest planning update, super excited I was able to customize our magic bands (blue for me, pink for DD and gray for DH). I've also started making my DD a couple dresses to bring along. I found this great princess fabric along with some material she called 'Cinderella blue' and plan to make her a summer dress.

I also found out that you can save 5% on disney gift cards with a TargetRed card. I've since gone and applied for the debit card and have it on the way to my house. That has to be one of the best tips I've found on these boards yet!

 

[AlohaAnnie]

Hi Julie

I think you have some great plans. We love AKL, it is our favorite. We are also staying CL in March/April 2014 and we have the Sunrise Safari booked and paid for.

I love love the Target gift cards. We did this for our trip June 2013. I download the Disney Gift Card App on my phone and then coincided a number on the gift card and the app to keep track of the cards. I used a sharpie to mark each one. It was fairly simple but was time consuming to do but worth it. We are doing the same for our trip March/April 2014.

Princess Palpatine is adorable and I love that she calls Darth Vader, Super Hero! Too Cute and she is already a princess. Awesome! I miss the princess days with my DD, she is 12 now and not interested like she use to be.

I will follow along with plans, BTW, I am also an ADR changer but I am trying to control myself. I have changed things a few times with our ADRs but I am doing my best to leave them where they are.

Cheers!!

 

[Tasmen]

I think you have some great plans. We love AKL, it is our favorite. We are also staying CL in March/April 2014 and we have the Sunrise Safari booked and paid for.

So excited for this!

I love love the Target gift cards. We did this for our trip June 2013. I download the Disney Gift Card App on my phone and then coincided a number on the gift card and the app to keep track of the cards. I used a sharpie to mark each one. It was fairly simple but was time consuming to do but worth it. We are doing the same for our trip March/April 2014.

Oh I didn't know there was a gift card app. I'll have to go check that out now. I plan to buy gift cards between now and the trip whenever I'm in Target. I buy $50 less of stuff I don't need but the Target shopping pheromones tell me I do and get a gift card instead. I can do this!

Princess Palpatine is adorable and I love that she calls Darth Vader, Super Hero! Too Cute and she is already a princess. Awesome! I miss the princess days with my DD, she is 12 now and not interested like she use to be.

I know the princess days will be over before I know it. I'm having fun with it while she's at this age.

I will follow along with plans, BTW, I am also an ADR changer but I am trying to control myself. I have changed things a few times with our ADRs but I am doing my best to leave them where they are.

Every day I resist changing my plans I do keep second guessing California Grill though. I'm really disappointed with some of the reviews I've been reading since the refurb. I just can't decide if I want to keep that or change it to something like Jiko, Citricos or the Yachtsman instead.

Also welcome! Hope I don't get too babblely along the way!

 

[Tasmen]

Having one of those days where I am trying not to freak about about FP+ and our ability to ride all the things we want to ride while at WDW. I keep reminding myself that we will be THERE and that should be enough.

In the past, we've been the type of person to stock up on FPs throughout the day so that we could ride our favorite rides numerous times. The idea of adjusting our touring is starting to sink in and ugh...

#disneyworldproblems

 

[MeeskaMomma]

Joining in

We will be there in early May! So excited. Love that your daughter calls him "super hero!" How did he react when she said that?

I understand what you mean about fastpass+ I am pretty nervous.

 

[AlohaAnnie]

Having one of those days where I am trying not to freak about about FP+ and our ability to ride all the things we want to ride while at WDW. I keep reminding myself that we will be THERE and that should be enough. In the past, we've been the type of person to stock up on FPs throughout the day so that we could ride our favorite rides numerous times. The idea of adjusting our touring is starting to sink in and ugh... #disneyworldproblems

Hopefully by the time it gets around to your booking of FP+ things will change a bit. That is what I am hoping for but my booking window is Jan 27 so I really don't see that. We are going to hit the parks early and make FP+ for the afternoon and evening. We are hoping to get more rides in this way. We will see. We generally take it easy at Disney but we do get up early on several mornings.

I think it will work out for you.

 

[Tasmen]

Hopefully by the time it gets around to your booking of FP+ things will change a bit. That is what I am hoping for but my booking window is Jan 27 so I really don't see that. We are going to hit the parks early and make FP+ for the afternoon and evening. We are hoping to get more rides in this way. We will see. We generally take it easy at Disney but we do get up early on several mornings.

I think it will work out for you.

It probably will I'm just worrying because with everything planned at this point, all I have is the worry juice left! I'm sure we'll have a wonderful time no matter what.

Change is scary, ok???

 

[AlohaAnnie]

It probably will I'm just worrying because with everything planned at this point, all I have is the worry juice left! I'm sure we'll have a wonderful time no matter what. Change is scary, ok???

I understand and agree change is difficult. Worry Juice, love that! I will have to use it!

 

[Tasmen]

Plans, plans and more plans... our current Distinerary... (though that sounds like dysentery so maybe I won't use that smoosh word again)

May 20th
* Fly in (flight to still be purchased)
* Check in at AoA and our Little Mermaid room.
* Dinner at Raglan Road (though this may change dependent on when flight gets in)

May 21th
* Resort swapping time - Move from AoA to AKL CL
* After getting situated (aka keyed/banded up), we'll go to Epcot
* Coral Reef for lunch
* We will probably do Soarin for our FP+ and not sure what else.
* When we finish Epcot, we'll head over to HS simply to ride Star Tours (because we are junkies and will need our sweet sith fix) and then head back to the hotel.
* Dinner will be the luau at the Poly

May 22th
* Get to MK for rope drop and/or EMH (if the schedule stands)
* The only definite FP+ I know for this day will be with Belle.
* Lunch at the Crystal Palace
* Leave a little after lunch and back to room for rest/pool time
* Head to Wilderness area for carriage ride and Hoop-Dee-Doo time

May 23th
* Arrive at HS as early as possible for it is Star Wars Weekends and we have needs and FEELS
* FP+ TSM, Star Tours and something else
* Lunch is at 50's Prime Time
* Leave a little after lunch
* Drop kiddo off at AKL kid's club for dinner and then head to California Grill for adult time and beverages

May 24th
* Arrive early at MK for CRT adr (because getting up early is for flights, snowboarding and Disney vacations)
* FP+ one of the mountains or a character experience.
* Dinner at Boma

May 25th
* Sunrise Safari aka up even earlier than any other day on the trip. I expect our mantra that morning to be something like 'Lions, Pears and Pancakes, oh my!'
* Tour AK after the safari
* FP+ - I can't decide if we want HS or AK FPs for this day.
* No ADR but we are SO eating Flame Tree BBQ because... FLAME TREE BBQ
* We'll probably be done shortly after lunch
* Dinner is at HS & the Brown Derby for the Fantasmic Dinner Package (and more Star Wars-ing)

May 26th
* Sleep in.. a little.
* Princess Tea Party at the Grand Floridian with DD while DH goes to HS for yet MORE Star Wars
* We will either meet up with him at HS OR let him play with his toys and have more mommy and DD time at MK
* Dinner is at Be Our Guest
* Fireworks Dessert Party for Wishes

May 27th
* What we do on this day other than cry because it is our last day has not been decided. Watch it be HS again.

 

[AlohaAnnie]

I am so excited for you, so many wonderful plans. I love it. So happy you are doing the tea party with DD, I took my daughter back in the day and it was wonderful. Now we do tea together almost every trip.

You have planned a wonderful vacation. Awesome!

.

 

[Tasmen]

I am so excited for you, so many wonderful plans. I love it. So happy you are doing the tea party with DD, I took my daughter back in the day and it was wonderful. Now we do tea together almost every trip.

You have planned a wonderful vacation. Awesome!

.

I'm really excited about the tea. I had been waffling between that and Bibbity. I decided the tea party way out trumped a salon visit. How often do you get an opportunity to have tea with a real princess?

I plan on leaving the tea as a surprise for DD and not telling her about it until we get there.

 

[Tasmen]

And airline tickets purchased. I got an amazing deal on Southwest for flying clear across the country from west to east coast. Other airlines were $700-$1k more PLUS baggage fees.

Guess this means I get to update my info for DME

 

[Tasmen]

Phew... had a scare there. I thought we were going to have to cancel our trip just after I bought our airfare. I got laid off from my job.

Thankfully, I found a new one in a week so no need to cancel! Go go Seattle tech industry!

Anyway, got my memory maker card in the mail the other day and eagerly awaiting our window to make our FP+ selections. Did I read correctly that you can make a BOG lunch fastpass and it doesn't count to your 3? If that is the case, we'll need to add that onto our agenda for one of our MK days.

Friends also got DD an Ariel costume for christmas. She came up to me today and asked: "Mommy, can I wear this at Disneyworld?" I guess she has her own little countdown going in her head.