Pink Pajamas, Penguins on the Bottom PTR, August 2010 with pics!

[annmarieda]

Originally Posted by flamestarrdust

Yay for 2 months, 1 week and 5 days!!!

Yay is right!!!!

[flamestarrdust]

Ok, so one more update. I am about to work 7 days straight before my next days off so I figured I'd add an extra update today. So we are taking the amtrak to WDW. This has it's own added issues to figure out. Food is just one of them. We are not booking rooms on the train, just seats. Therefore, food is not included. But before I go into the food issue, here is the train schedule:

Amtrak

Leave Home: 12:57pm
Arrive Raleigh: 3:43pm

Departure: Raleigh to Kissimmee

Depart 9:13pm
Arrive 10:55am

Return: Kissimmee to Raleigh

Depart: 6:40pm
Arrive: 8:43am

Leave Raleigh: 11:50am
Arrive Home: 2:30pm


So as you can see we have about a 6 hr layover in Raleigh. No sense in getting a rental car so if we decide to leave the station, we are walking. I thought we may grab an early dinner. Then just eat snacks and breakfast on the train. As for sodas and drinks, I am thinking about getting a small hard plastic rolling cooler I found at Wal-Mart for $15-$20. I am also thinking about getting this to use as my carry-on since it has a cooler on bottom which would be good for snacks and then a regular storage area on top: http://www.amazon.com/Picnic-Time-In.../dp/B000O8CWNG

[annmarieda]

Originally Posted by flamestarrdust

Arrive 10:55am

Will you go straight to Pop or to the parks?

Originally Posted by flamestarrdust

So as you can see we have about a 6 hr layover in Raleigh. No sense in getting a rental car so if we decide to leave the station, we are walking. I thought we may grab an early dinner. Then just eat snacks and breakfast on the train. As for sodas and drinks, I am thinking about getting a small hard plastic rolling cooler I found at Wal-Mart for $15-$20. I am also thinking about getting this to use as my carry-on since it has a cooler on bottom which would be good for snacks and then a regular storage area on top: http://www.amazon.com/Picnic-Time-In.../dp/B000O8CWNG

Looks like you have a great plan for on your way down. I love the backpack! It looks very handy!

[vikkil70]

I love the backpack, I might have to check one out for myself,even just for summer use since my boys and I go on short hikes pretty often. (I tell them it's training for walking in Disney).

I've seem some cute beach towels at WM too. DH keeps telling me we have so many beach towels now that we don't need anymore, but I keep thinking Disney themed ones for the boys would be so cute. I guess we'll see on that one.

Taking the train sounds fun. If we ever end up moving down south like my DH wants to, I would love to try that. We are driving down from PA, when we saw the price of airfare, even with staying overnight in GA, gas and food, it still ends up cheaper and we can pack what we want.


Annmarieda, after you mentioned it I looked at the tickers. That's funny how we'll all be there one after the other. We requested the 50's section but don't really care. My boys saw pics of the bowling pin pool and that's all they talk about now so that's why we requested it, also it looks close to the parking lot. We did get a preferred room though.

[flamestarrdust]

Originally Posted by vikkil70

I love the backpack, I might have to check one out for myself,even just for summer use since my boys and I go on short hikes pretty often. (I tell them it's training for walking in Disney).

That's what I did all last summer, too...lol. We lived only a couple of blocks from the park. However, it would be scorching most days. Though we did bring along bottles of water. Everytime they would complain about the heat I'd say "you better get used to it cause this is how it will be at Disney, just with better scenery...lol"

[flamestarrdust]

To answer Annmarieda and to post a new update:

Here are my first/arrival day plans:

Provided the train is on time, we should arrive in Kissimmee around 10:55am. We will then be taking a minivan via Happy Limo to Pop to check in and a 15 min grocery stop. I am guessing our room will not be ready by then so we will leave our luggage with the front desk or bell services. Then we will go to DTD for lunch and some shopping. Even if our room is ready, our plans will be the same. Of course we will check out the room before we go to DTD. We are planning on having lunch at E of S or WPE, depending on crowds. If we're really hungry, we may go to PH to use the $15 off coupon. Even though it is no longer a snack on the DDP, we will be going to Goofy's to get a make your own snack. After a little shopping, depending on how we feel after being on the train all night, we will go check out the room at POP (if the room wasn't ready earlier), then we will either go to DHS or Epcot or if we're too tired, we may just hang out by the pool and maybe take a little nap. Either way, we will plan on getting to the Boardwalk at around 7pm or 7:30pm to spend some time there before our 8:30pm Dinner at Cape May Cafe. After dinner, we will go back to POP. If we didn't swim before, we may swim then. Then off to bed to get up for our Chef Mickey's Breakfast and our first day at MK.

[annmarieda]

Your first day looks really relaxed. I like that you will get to go to DTD and use the pool. For us, those are hard to fit in. My dd tends to be a drill sargent when it comes to getting to the parks.

Hey, I don't know if you got your cooler yet..but I saw that Disney store online had this one on sale. The one you found probably is bigger, but in case you were looking for Disney specific...thought I would pass this along to you.

http://www.disneystore.com/bags-tote...46844/302504/#

[flamestarrdust]

Originally Posted by annmarieda

Your first day looks really relaxed. I like that you will get to go to DTD and use the pool. For us, those are hard to fit in. My dd tends to be a drill sargent when it comes to getting to the parks.

Hey, I don't know if you got your cooler yet..but I saw that Disney store online had this one on sale. The one you found probably is bigger, but in case you were looking for Disney specific...thought I would pass this along to you.

http://www.disneystore.com/bags-tote...46844/302504/#

We have a few days like that. It's kind of why I booked the trip for as long as I did so that we have the option to just chill out and take our time doing things.

Thanks for the cooler idea. I haven't bought either of the ones I mentioned yet. Turns out that the hard plastic one I wanted is sold out at Wal-Mart where I first saw it. I am hoping they get more but not sure. I may have to go to another location to check it out. But I may end up getting the one you suggested instead of the backpack one since it is a bit cheaper. I already have a few bags to use as carry-ons. I will be posting pics of them soon. I have a habit of when I see a bag, I usually go ahead and get it. Especially if it's a good deal.

[flamestarrdust]

Originally Posted by annmarieda

Your first day looks really relaxed. I like that you will get to go to DTD and use the pool. For us, those are hard to fit in. My dd tends to be a drill sargent when it comes to getting to the parks.

Hey, I don't know if you got your cooler yet..but I saw that Disney store online had this one on sale. The one you found probably is bigger, but in case you were looking for Disney specific...thought I would pass this along to you.

http://www.disneystore.com/bags-tote...46844/302504/#

I also forgot to mention in the update that one of the biggest reasons we are taking it super slow our arrival day is because all the parks close early. Well, at least I think it's early compared to other days. Here's what I mean:

Saturday, August 21st

MK – 9am – 10pm

Epcot –
World Showcase: 11am – 9pm
Future World: 9am – 7pm

DHS – 9am –7pm

AK – 8am – 7pm (EMH 8am – 9pm)

One I realized how close the Boardwalk was to DHS and Epcot, I tried to get an earlier ADR for Cape May but the only one I could get was for 8:30pm. So I just decided it was probably for the best considering we will all be pretty exhausted from sleeping on the train the night before.

[annmarieda]

Originally Posted by flamestarrdust

Saturday, August 21st
MK – 9am – 10pm
Epcot –
World Showcase: 11am – 9pm
Future World: 9am – 7pm
DHS – 9am –7pm
AK – 8am – 7pm (EMH 8am – 9pm)

I was kinda surprised by the hours. I would have expected that they were open till midnight or something. Same thing is happening the night of our arrival. 9pm is the latest any park is open.

[flamestarrdust]

Sorry for no updates over the past couple of days. Work has been super busy over the past few days and I am so exhausted when I get home, I usually just crash. I do have plenty to share like pics of some new purchases and my day 2 plans. I will try to post either tomorrow or the next day.

[chunkymonkey]

Originally Posted by flamestarrdust

I am also thinking about getting this to use as my carry-on since it has a cooler on bottom which would be good for snacks and then a regular storage area on top: http://www.amazon.com/Picnic-Time-In.../dp/B000O8CWNG

I have this Picnic Time wine/cheese tote which I love!

They are a little pricey but when on sale, grab them! I bough mine for 50%off at a sample sale. They are great quality and look like their products are sturdy and last a long time. I have bought a few cheap coolers before and they oftentimes have leaked or just did't hold up. Either way, your choices look great!

[flamestarrdust]

Originally Posted by chunkymonkey

I have this Picnic Time wine/cheese tote which I love!

They are a little pricey but when on sale, grab them! I bough mine for 50%off at a sample sale. They are great quality and look like their products are sturdy and last a long time. I have bought a few cheap coolers before and they oftentimes have leaked or just did't hold up. Either way, your choices look great!

I will definitely keep an eye out for that to go on sale. It is so cute! And also perfect for picnics and trips!

[flamestarrdust]

Originally Posted by annmarieda

I was kinda surprised by the hours. I would have expected that they were open till midnight or something. Same thing is happening the night of our arrival. 9pm is the latest any park is open.

I was surprised, too. My original add on dates included late evening EMH for MK which I really love. I stay up late anyway so I love being in the park after hours. However, that isn't happening on any of the days we are staying.

[flamestarrdust]

So I guess I should explain the way I plan things before continuing with my daily plans. I choose which park to go to on which days depending on EMHs so we can try to get the most time in each park. I did the same thing on my previous trip and it worked out really well. So our first full day/2nd day, we will be at the MK. Here are the park hours for that day: 9am – 12 am (EMH 9pm – 12am).

Our morning plans will all be based on how tired we are. I was thinking about trying to make it to rope drop since the kids are with me and I've never actually seen any of the parks rope drops in the past. If we get there in time to see the rope drop, my fiance will be meeting us at our breakfast ADR at Chef Mickey's at 10:35am. He will probably want to sleep in and I told him that was ok to do. He's not as big of a WDW fan as me and the kids are so I told him if he wants to take breaks and hang out in the room or by the pool, I'm ok with that. However, I think he will probably fall in love with WDW. Probably not as much as me but that's ok. I pretty much turn into a little kid when I visit WDW. When I went with my bestfriend, he laughed at me because he swears he's never seen the look on my face that I get when I am at WDW.

I picked Chef Mickey's because I felt like it would be a good memory for the girls to have breakfast with Mickey and friends on our first full day at WDW. Plus I loved Chef Mickey's breakfast and have raved to the girls about it.

So if we do make it for rope drop, the girls and I will check out wait times for the dumbo ride. It is something I have always wanted to ride but never have. Plus, the girls are very excited to ride it, too. We will also be checking out Ariel's Grotto since AJ is such a huge fan of Ariel. We may try to ride a couple other things but it depends on the wait times. We may also try to get fastpasses for Mickey's Philharmagic but that depends on what the return times are. It will mostly just be about showing them around the MK. Especially since their dad will will want to see their reactions to the rides as well. After breakfast, we will make our way back to MK and check out wait times for the rides that we want to ride. We will definitely be riding Haunted Mansion and the Carousel of Progress. I've told the girls a lot about the Haunted Mansion ride. So now the girls talk about it all the time and can't wait to ride.

Here is a list of our must do rides at MK (not in order):


Dumbo
Carousel of Progress
Haunted Mansion
Mickey's Philharmagic (One of my faves )
Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
It's a Small World
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Splash Mountain
Jungle Cruise
Mad Tea Party
Mickey and Minnie's Houses
Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor
Pirates of the Caribbean
The Hall of Presidents
The Enchanted Tiki Room
Barnstormer
Swiss Family Treehouse
Space Mountain
Tomorrowland Speedway
Ariel's Grotto

Since I have an extra day for MK planned, I am not too worried if we don't get to ride everything we want on the first day. Since we will be eating such a late breakfast, we will grab a snack in the afternoon and then do a QS dinner in the MK. I'm not sure which QS we will choose. Does anyone have any recommendations on QS at MK? I've only eaten at Cosmic Ray's but I've heard some good reviews about Pinocchio Village Haus and Columbia Harbour House. I would also like to see Wishes if they are showing it that night and see one of the parades. I am not sure where to find the schedules for the fireworks or parades. I'm pretty sure there is one. Just not sure where to find it. Does anyone have a link where I can find them?

So around the time MK closes, we will head back to POP to rest up for our day at AK.

Next up: Some of my trip purchases (with pics)