2 Sisters who've been taking their families who haven't ...

[Ms.Organization]

Hi everybody and to my first ever pre-trip report!!!​

I've been reading all of the trip reports and pre-trip reports for a while now and since we've got a trip planned (finally), it's my chance to do one! Since this is my first ever pre-trip report and I have no idea what I'm really doing, I'm kind of nervous in starting one. So bear with me as I try to do this right and make it something worth reading.

OK so ... Like any good pre-trip report, I guess I'll start with the basics.

What: A Visit to Disney, Sea World, and Harry Potter ... 2 members of our group of 6 have been here before but not since 1987 that’s a long time ago in Disney talk

When: September 14th to September 25th

Where: Disney’s All Star Music

Why: Because We Can

and most importantly...

Who: Well since I’m the planner we will start with ME (Sarah Ann) age 31, my DH (Colin) age 28 ... we just got married in Oct of 2010 so this is our first big vacation. Then coming along as well is my sister (Marcy) age 38, her DH (Seward) age 50 (turning 50 while we are there YAY), their two children (Evan & Allison) 8 and 6 respectively

Back L to R: Seward, Colin, ME, Marcy
In Front: My niece Allison (age 5 ... 6 by trip) and my nephew Evan (8)

 

[TanzUnited99]

Hi Sarah I am also a planner and going to be at Disney World at a similar time to you guys so am subscribing and looking forward to hearing your plans

We will be staying at Pop but am sure you guys will have a great time at All Star Music! Congrats on your wedding!

 

[Ms.Organization]

As I said previously, my husband and I just got married in October of 2010 and we had originally wanted to try and plan a trip to Disney for our honeymoon, however, that just wasn’t in the cards for us. We had so much going on we decided to push it off.

Then one day in August I was looking around and found out that they had free dining advertised much earlier than normal and decided to take a look at what it would cost us as a couple, and then cost my sister and her family, to go. It came to a decent price, however, we couldn’t find a week we wanted till September of 2011 ... seemed really far away so I had to do some convincing of the above mentioned family members.

I spent 2 days putting together a huge document that outlined what everyone would cost, where we would go, and even through in some things that might be educational since we would be going during school time for the kiddies ... within minutes of sending this document off to my sister I received an email and this is all it said ...

ARE YOU SERIOUS ... OF COURSE WE WILL GO ... MAKE IT HAPPEN!!

I roared for about 10 minutes ... then I had to convince my DH as he has never been and truthfully really had no desire to go. Now seeing as I had been there as a child I knew the joys of Disney ... so I tried my best to convince him. He was hesitant but said yes we could go but he wasn’t happy at the time. This was all in August of 2010 ... 2 months before our wedding ... so looking back I can see why he was so hesitant.

SO with the yes from all parties I started planning, reading, planning ... and even more planning .....

 

[Ms.Organization]

So here's a basic outline of the current itinerary. I say current because between now and September lots can change I’m sure...

The day before our flight leaves both families have some travelling to do. My husband and I live in Cape Breton, NS and my sister and her family live in PEI ... so that’s at least 4 – 6 hours of driving each just to GET to Halifax, NS for our flights the next morning ... so let’s get started on the actual DISNEY trip!!

Day 1 - Wednesday, September 14

• We have our flights booked and we are leaving Halifax, NS at 5:55am which means probably almost 0 sleep for any of us since we will have to be up and at the airport by at least 3:55am.
  
• We fly into Toronto for a 3 hour layover which might be JUST enough time for the kids to go to the washroom and grab a quick snack.
  
• Then it’s off to Orlando International Airport ... hoping for no delays we should be there by 1pm.
  
• Our bags will be picked up by DME as will we ... so next stop will be All Star Music!!
  
• After we check in we will head to our rooms and do some exploring and possibly a nap because ....
  
• Our first DISNEY plan is to head over to the Magic Kingdom for the Electrical Parade at 8pm and the Wishes Parade at 9pm. I am hoping to get there in enough time to do some looking around Main Street and then find a place for the parade.

 

[Ms.Organization]

Day 2 - Thursday, September 15

We want to start our first day off with some awesome characters and not necessarily Magic Kingdom ones. The kids are both animal lovers so I thought this would be the best place to start.

Our day is going to be busy and its going to start EARLY!!

• We have an 8:10am reservation for Donald's Safari Breakfast at Tusker House Restaurant so we need to get the 7 or 7:30am bus to Animal Kingdom.
  
• Once breakfast is done and bathroom breaks are had its on to the rest of Animal Kingdom
  
• Sometime mid-day we will have a quick snack/lunch
  
• We will finish this park off with the Jammin Jungle Parade at 3:30
  
• Then we will take a bus over to Hollywood Studios
  
• Supper here will be a Quick Service/Counter Service meal as we don't want to be late in getting a seat for Fantasmic. Everything I have read said to get a seat and get it early as the seating starts 90 min before the show

This will end our LONG LONG 1st day​