Sisters Trip August 9-16, 2024. Told you it would change!

[mkmomto2]

Hi there! I am trying this again. I wrote a pre-trip report in 2020 and never finished it, so I'm hopeful that I will finish this one and then write a trip report after it is over, but we shall see. I have been reading these boards for a really long time (my profile says 2013, but it was even earlier than that I'm sure). I feel like it is time to give back... hopefully I will follow through this time! Let's begin!

Allow me to introduce myself: I'm Stacy. I am a special education teacher from Delaware and just started a travel business on the side. I started my business less than a year ago when I realized that I would like to retire in the near future, but still have some additional income. So, I figured, why not do something I love to do anyway? I have been planning travel for my family and friends for years, so why not get paid for it? The amount of work that I put into a trip definitely is much more than I get paid, but I love it and am building my business so it is a wash, at least in my mind haha . Enough about me, let's get onto the trip!


Here I am with my first Butterbeer

Dates: 8/9/24-8/16/24. I like going during this time because it is in between summer school, which I always work, and regular school. The crowds are usually pretty light during this time as well (actually this is a week earlier than I typically go because summer school is ending a week early). I very likely may add on days to the back end of this trip.

Resort: Pop Century (I have stayed at Pop Century many times- both before and since the skyliner was built). I have previously booked other resorts and then changed back to Pop so many times I have lost count. For a solo trip especially, Pop has plenty of room, I love having the table and the skyliner makes getting to/from Hollywood Studios and EPCOT just so easy.

Travellers: Just me right now; however, my sister and/or niece and nephew in law have indicated that they may join me. I love solo trips so much, but also love my trips with my sisters and nieces and nephews so will be happy with whatever everyone decides!


Here is a picture from Universal last month in case my sister and/or niece and nephew in law decide to join.

Highlights: I am going to prioritize these experiences: Luminous at EPCOT, the drone show at Disney Springs, Journey of Water and the Moana show at EPCOT because they are new to me.

I am an early riser, so I love to rope drop the parks! I also enjoy a mid-day break, especially in the summer when it is really hot. Nighttime at the parks is particularly pleasant in the summertime, so I try to stay up as late as possible (which isn't always easy for me lol) to enjoy time in the parks at night. I typically don't love Disney Springs, but will visit for a restaurant reservation if I'm so inclined and plan to make an ADR for somewhere that has a good view of the drone show.

I have not decided how many park days I will do and that may depend on if anyone is coming to join me. I know that if my family members join, they will most likely purchase the 4 day magic tickets that are available for the summer. I haven't quite decided if I am going to extend the trip, so most likely I will get a 6-10 day park hopper depending on what I decide and venture out for some solo days if they do join me.

I know this is all just loosely formed at this point, but I will solidify plans as we go along.

Thanks for joining me on this adventure!

 

[MrsK53113]

Joining in! I'm also from Delaware and it's so fun to find others since it's SUCH a small state! My daughter and I are also going in August, right after you're due to get back. I'm looking forward to hearing more of your plans

 

[mkmomto2]

Joining in! I'm also from Delaware and it's so fun to find others since it's SUCH a small state! My daughter and I are also going in August, right after you're due to get back. I'm looking forward to hearing more of your plans

Fun! Delaware is very small indeed haha! I usually go the same week as you, but summer school is ending a bit sooner this year, so I thought I would go earlier to have a few days before the regular school year starts. I see you have a PTR as well, so I will follow along with yours too!

 

[mkmomto2]

The key is to stay fluid!
The last time I wrote, this was a solo trip, but my sister has decided to join me, YAY!
The dates are the same; however, I am thinking about flying in on the evening of the 8th now. If we do, I am not sure where we will stay that night- I've toyed with the idea of staying off-site just to see how it is and then ubering over in the morning. Stay tuned!

Our loose plans are as follows (subject to change if we have to for ADRs):

8/8/24: Arrival Evening
8/9/24: Possible skyliner hopping with Jellyrolls?
8/10/24: Magic Kingdom- Tony's for lunch for parade viewing
8/11/24: Hollywood Studios- Brown Derby Lounge for lunch or dinner
8/12/24: Disney Springs- Paddlefish for Dinner for Drone Viewing
8/13/24: Animal Kingdom - Yak n Yeti for Dinner, Nomad for lunch
8/14/24: Epcot- Rose N Crown Fireworks Dining Package
8/15/24: Possible Monorail Hop with Poly beach fireworks?
8/16/24: Departure

Not sure how this is all going to go, but we have some things we definitely want to do and then others that we are flexible on.

 

[mkmomto2]

And fluid we will stay!

My sister's niece on her husband's side of the family has just announced a celebration of some sort. Guess when it is? Yep! Right at the beginning of our trip... so, we pivot.

I am dropping that add on first night and adding two to the end of the trip to compensate.... My sister will join me sometime on the 11th now. She will still be getting the 4 day magic tickets, but I will definitely be getting at least 7 day park hoppers. My plan is to fly solo on the 9th from BWI (but very well may switch my flight to the 8th after summer school ends). She will fly out of Newark on the 11th to join me. We will fly back to BWI together on the 18th.


8/9/24: Solo day in Epcot- maybe hopping to Hollywood Studios
8/10/24: Solo day in Magic Kingdom
8/11/24: Solo morning in Animal Kingdom until Sister arrives. Then Disney Springs- Paddlefish for dinner for Drone Show Viewing
8/12/24: Hollywood Studios- HBD lounge for lunch
8/13/24: Possible Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party (lazy day prior.) Probably a late lunch at Geyser Point or Steakhouse 71 lounge before the party.
8/14/24: Animal Kingdom. Nomad Lounge for lunch, Yak n Yeti for dinner.
8/15/24: EPCOT. Rose and Crown Fireworks Dining package.
8/16/24: Rest Day. Possible monorail hop, skyliner hop. Disney Springs?
8/17/24: Magic Kingdom. Tony's for parade viewing at 11:30 a.m.
8/18/24: departure day

My niece and her husband are trying to decide if they want to join us and a friend of ours might as well. If so, everything will change again haha.

I am toying with the idea of getting Standby Skipper again. I did once before just to try it and it was helpful, but with virtual queues for both Tron and Tiana, it might be really helpful to get the regular lightning lanes with so that I can concentrate on the virtual queues and individual lightning lanes. Not sure yet what I want to do with that.

Any thoughts on any of this are very welcomed!

 

[mkmomto2]

Well, now that school is finally out, I am ready to focus a little more on this trip. I have changed a few things as per usual. I secured my flights and will be flying in on 8/9/24 and will land around 12. I am planning on the following now:


8/9/24: Land around 12, Mears shuttle to Pop Century, Skyliner to EPCOT for the evening.
-----I will probably wander around World Showcase a bit, maybe check out new Moana attraction, if the Encanto show is happening, watch that, etc. I don't think I will get Genie+ for this day. I will probably find a spot and watch Luminous on this day.

8/10/24: Solo day in Magic Kingdom and will probably hop to Hollywood Studios (sister may come in late on this night)
----I will definitely rope drop MK and ride Seven Dwarfs. I probably will get Genie+ on this day, but if I do get Standby Skipper, I can't start it until the next day (it is good for 7 days consecutively). I won't buy an individual lightning lane, but may try for the virtual queue for Tron. My first genie + will definitely be Tiana's. I will do that first as it is the one I am most interested in. Depending on how busy it is, I might start stacking lightning lanes for the afternoon/evening in Hollywood studios pretty early. Hoping to ride Slinky, Mickey and Minnie, Tower of Terror and Toy Story Mania.

8/11/24: Solo morning in Animal Kingdom (sister may come in this day as well- still up in the air. I will probably go to AK in the morning regardless) I will rope drop AK and head right to FOP. If I get Genie + this day (will probably be determined by if my sister is coming in late or early- may not need it for just AK, but if I hop, then it might be nice). I would like to see the shows and ride Dinosaur. I have never ridden Everest, but am planning to. I may save it for when my sister comes.
*** If she comes in the night before or early on this day, we will go to Disney Springs for the drone show this evening. I have a tentative reservation at Jaleo, but am planning on switching to the Summer House on the Lake once I know. If she comes in too late, this evening will be shifted to another night and I will probably spend the evening in one of the parks.

8/12/24: Hollywood Studios- HBD lounge for lunch (yummy cobb salad!) and we have a Sci Fi Fantasmic package for dinner. Genie + and maybe ILL for Rise. Will try for Slinky first. Rope dropping Tower of Terror and Rockin Roller Coaster. My sister cannot park hop, so we will go back for a rest mid-day and then return to HS in the evening.

8/13/24: Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party (lazy day prior.) Probably a late lunch at Geyser Point or Steakhouse 71 lounge before the party. I did grab a Kona Cafe late lunch reservation as well in case we decide to do that. Our focus is going to be on the shows, parade, fireworks and rides. We don't care too much about the character meets. Really excited for this. My sister has not gone to a party before, so can't wait!


8/14/24: Rest Day. I have a Jaleo reservation here as well, but will probably shift to Summer House if we are doing the drone show this night. I have a lunch reservation at Beaches N Cream. If we aren't going to Disney Springs for the drone show this night, we will do a skyliner bop day, rest and then a monorail bop evening most likely, planning on finishing somewhere that we can watch the MK fireworks from.

8/15/24: EPCOT. Space 220 Lounge lunch, Rose and Crown Fireworks Dining package. Will try for a virtual queue for Guardians and will probably buy an ILL as well. If we get Genie +, will probably get Remy/Frozen first. We will be Skylining in, so may be able to rope drop Remy. Will go back for a rest midday and then return for the evening.

8/16/24: Animal Kingdom. Nomad Lounge lunch, Yak n Yeti for dinner. Rope drop or purchase ILL for FOP. If we do Genie+, will probably get Navi first and then Safari. We will probably go back for a rest and then return although the hours are shorter for this park. The heat in August may dictate that we do that though.

8/17/24: Magic Kingdom. Tony's for parade viewing at 11:30 a.m. We will rope drop Seven Dwarfs, try for a Virtual Queue for Tron, Genie + first selection will be Tiana. We will take a break mid-day and then come back in the evening. I will be stacking lightning lanes for the evening. My guess is that we will not stay for fireworks this night or we will ride rides during rather than watching.

8/18/24: departure day, flight is at 8, so we will schedule a lyft or uber for around 5-5:30.

My niece and her husband are still up in the air. They may join us, so we will shift again if so. I'm sure these plans will change as we get closer lol.