3 Boys and 20 Hours in a Minivan,I Must Really Love this Place!*New4/22 TR LINK

[lsenquiz]

Love the shirts. I have used touringplans for a couple of years now and love the website but am not a big fan of their touringplans. I do like making a customized plan that I can pull up with my smart phone but just don't like letting them optomize it.

 

[carissanboys]

Hi Carissa! So glad you are here!

I am very excited about WH. I was nervous about an offsite trip, but my experience with the owner so far has really put my mind at ease.

I do not take pics with my phone. I, sadly, have not jumped on the smartphone wagon as of yet. I still just have a quick messaging phone and an inferior phone camera! But...I would assume that you have to get the pics to photobucket or another photo sharing site before posting them here. Agreed, a big pain. Especially since posting to facebook is so simple from your device. I also find myself wanting to "like" a person's post on here...LOL! Facebook has spoiled me!

The drive from WH to the parks is so easy if you take the short cut. You know about it, right? There was no traffic to deal with and was very quick.

I'll have to look into it. I'll take most of my pictures with my phone, although I will probably lug the big camera along. I wonder if photobucket has a mobile app so I can upload directly from my phone. That would make things easier. Off to research!

Are you doing a TR?

 

[DisMomAmy]

I know what you mean about touring DHS! That's always a tricky one. I think I'll try to work on our touring plans some more today. I guess I'll start with DHS too. The fact that you have to return with a fastpass during the actual fastpass window does seem to make things trickier too!

I love the shirts!!

 

[carissanboys]

P.S. Yes, there is a photobucket app! Bring on the TR!

Just looked back and saw your shirts. I saw the iron on ones on FB but for some reason couldn't find the ones with fabric paint. They look really cute!

 

[mommytothreeboys]

Love the shirts. I have used touringplans for a couple of years now and love the website but am not a big fan of their touringplans. I do like making a customized plan that I can pull up with my smart phone but just don't like letting them optomize it.

The optimizing was a little frustrating. I had to keep switching things, then doing it again. I'm very curious to see how accurate it is once I get there.

The drive from WH to the parks is so easy if you take the short cut. You know about it, right? There was no traffic to deal with and was very quick.

I'll have to look into it. I'll take most of my pictures with my phone, although I will probably lug the big camera along. I wonder if photobucket has a mobile app so I can upload directly from my phone. That would make things easier. Off to research!

Are you doing a TR?

I have heard of a shortcut, but have no details. Please fill me in!

I assume I will do a TR....who knows how long it will take to finish, but I'll do my best!

I had forgotten that you stayed at WH. I checked back on that PTR/TR and it was from 2007....I must have joined after that trip. I think the first PTR I followed was your camping/non-camping PTR! I skimmed through the WH one just to see how you liked the resort....looks like you had a great experience!

I know what you mean about touring DHS! That's always a tricky one. I think I'll try to work on our touring plans some more today. I guess I'll start with DHS too. The fact that you have to return with a fastpass during the actual fastpass window does seem to make things trickier too!

I love the shirts!!

Agreed...the enforcing of return times has made planning a little more tricky, but I think it's manageable. The addition of FP+ will add another element...still waiting to see when that rolls out officially. I was hoping it wouldn't interfere with our trip and it looks like it won't.

P.S. Yes, there is a photobucket app! Bring on the TR!

Just looked back and saw your shirts. I saw the iron on ones on FB but for some reason couldn't find the ones with fabric paint. They look really cute!

Thanks! Can't wait to read your TR! So glad photobucket has an app you can use.

 

[carissanboys]

Here is a thread that talks about the shortcut in detail:

Sherbeth Road Shortcut

It's from 2009, but I'm assuming nothing has changed?

I have a final to finish this morning and then I'm going to start my TR.

 

[Angies1274]

I completely agree about DHS! I have always found it so hard to navigate compared to the other parks. Not to mention figuring in time for meeting characters and the shows. However, I think your plans look good...especially with a crowd level prediction of 5.5. We usually always do rope drop so I really don't have any advice for arriving later but I have used touring plans before and were really happy with them! I have also used the free undercover tourist wait time app on Facebook. It shows wait times for all the attractions in all the parks right now. It may help you predict what wait times will be like when you are there.

 

[ddluvsdisney]

I just stumbled upon your PTR. After I started reading I found so many things we have in common.

I have 2 boys. 15 and 11. We have wanted to do a Disney cruise for years now but I just can't justify the cost when I can stay at a deluxe resort for a whole week for the same price of a 3 or 4 day cruise EEK!!!!

My boys want to go on a cruise in the worst way. So we are planning on taking them for DS15's graduation present in 2 years.

We are also driving down this year for the first time ( well its the boys' first).

We also saw the Red Sox play in Tampa 2x. Once in 2005 and then in 2008 both in April. The seats are so much CHEAPER than Fenway!!

Love your matching shirts. My boys haven't worn matching shirts in years. You are lucky they are such good sports.

Your plans look great so far. Love your yes, no, maybe lists!!

Have I "seen" you on the April 2013 thread???

 

[mommytothreeboys]

Here is a thread that talks about the shortcut in detail:

Sherbeth Road Shortcut



It's from 2009, but I'm assuming nothing has changed?

I have a final to finish this morning and then I'm going to start my TR.

Thanks so much! My husband is loving the interactive map! Very helpful. Did you find the Sherbeth Road shortcut to be a time saver to all the parks? It doesn't appear to be shorter in distance...is it a traffic issue on World Drive?

I completely agree about DHS! I have always found it so hard to navigate compared to the other parks. Not to mention figuring in time for meeting characters and the shows. However, I think your plans look good...especially with a crowd level prediction of 5.5. We usually always do rope drop so I really don't have any advice for arriving later but I have used touring plans before and were really happy with them! I have also used the free undercover tourist wait time app on Facebook. It shows wait times for all the attractions in all the parks right now. It may help you predict what wait times will be like when you are there.

I wish I had a device that would be able to utilize that resource..unfortunately, we have not yet taken the smart phone leap! If there is wi-fi we have iPods that might work, but only if there is wi-fi available.

I just stumbled upon your PTR. After I started reading I found so many things we have in common.

I have 2 boys. 15 and 11. We have wanted to do a Disney cruise for years now but I just can't justify the cost when I can stay at a deluxe resort for a whole week for the same price of a 3 or 4 day cruise EEK!!!!

My boys want to go on a cruise in the worst way. So we are planning on taking them for DS15's graduation present in 2 years.

We are also driving down this year for the first time ( well its the boys' first).

We also saw the Red Sox play in Tampa 2x. Once in 2005 and then in 2008 both in April. The seats are so much CHEAPER than Fenway!!

Love your matching shirts. My boys haven't worn matching shirts in years. You are lucky they are such good sports.

Your plans look great so far. Love your yes, no, maybe lists!!

Have I "seen" you on the April 2013 thread???

Hi there! We would have enjoyed a Disney cruise, I'm sure...but like you said, for the price of one 5 day Disney cruise, we get the cruise AND the parks.

I'll be sure to let you know how the drive goes!

My boys really are good sports about the shirts...but they were more than clear, ONLY AT DISNEY!

We are so excited about the addition of the game! And the fact that it is opening weekend is an added bonus!

I have been on the April 2013 thread, but not a great deal. My trip is on the list on the first post and I've commented a couple of times.

 

[mommytothreeboys]

I have several updates in the works. This will be a short one while I work on the longer one about our Animal Kingdom Touring Plans!

So, we ordered our tickets from Undercover Tourist and the package arrived in the mail yesterday! At first, I was a bit disappointed because the tickets were plain with just a barcode and some fine print.

Silly me! I turned them over and this is what they look like!

Much better! Now I feel like I got Mickey Mail!

The other purchase I made recently was at our local Goodwill. And I have to give Jeff all the credit for this one. I was looking around and he was being patient and allowing me to do so, when all of a sudden he found these little beauties!

Believe it or not, they were even my size! The shoe laces were dirty, but I took those out and plan to replace them with either red ones or black ones. SO CUTE! Thanks honey!

Next up will be our AK touring plan. But I am also working on an update about our “10 Days till Vacation” celebrations. Stay tuned…lots more to come!

 

[mommytothreeboys]

Animal Kingdom Touring Plan—Tuesday April 9, 2013
Crowd Level Prediction—5.4/10
Hours—9am-7pm

This will be a rope drop day!

Arrive at park for 9am rope drop. I assume we will shoot to leave the condo by 8ish.

Ride Expedition Everest via stand-by line (estimated wait time is 2 minutes!)

Send someone to pick up Kilimanjaro Safari FPs while the rest of us ride EE again (we hope!) Estimated return time in 10:35 am.

Depending on the day and the heat, ride Kali River Rapids

Dry off while enjoying the Maharajah Jungle Trek

Continue to dry off while walking the Pangani Forest Exploration trail

Use FP obtained earlier to ride Kilimanjaro Safari

See Festival of the Lion King at 11:15

Visit the bugs in It’s Tough to Be a Bug!

Head to Dinosaur to get FP (estimated return time 1:10)

Ride Triceratops Spin (for little baby Christian!)

See Finding Nemo—The Musical (we may skip this in favor of lunch or riding another attraction again.)

Ride Dinosaur with FP from earlier.

Get a spot for the Jammin Jungle Parade (obviously depends on how time has gone)

If we have completed the to-do list, we may hit Rafiki’s Planet Watch. (Christian would like it!)

We usually have no trouble hitting all of our Must-Do’s at this park in a full day. I’d really like to fit the parade in if possible and also some time to just explore and enjoy the shops and scenery.

Since AK is an early closer, we will leave AK and head to DTD for the rest of the night!

 

[wdwgirl03]

Great DAK plans! I love that park so much!

 

[ddluvsdisney]

Yay for Mickey mail

We are getting APs this year. I am so excited about that!! I'm going to order them next week since we just got our fed. Tax refund back already!!!

Love the Mickey sneakers find.

Your AK plans look great too. I think I like the FN show better than FOTLK.

I swear my DH goes to AK just for EE. If it wasn't for EE he would want to skip it all together. I still like the safari.

 

[indimom]

Oooh, new plans. I do love AK, and it's nice that you really can do almost everything there in a day! (If you can fit in the shows around your ride and meal schedules, lol.)
I'm gonna miss it this year, so I'll be looking forward to your TR!

 

[DisMomAmy]

Fun AK plans! I'm hoping to catch the parade this year too. We usually get there for rope drop and leave after lunch, but one of our days has us arriving around 2pm this year. I'm hoping to catch the parade when it loops back around and returns to Africa. I just have to figure out the timing to make that work.

We LOVE Festival of the Lion King! We're planning to see that again this year too!

 

[mickeystoontown]

What??????? No Flights of Wonder?

 

[mommytothreeboys]

Great DAK plans! I love that park so much!

We do too! It is so beautiful!

Yay for Mickey mail

We are getting APs this year. I am so excited about that!! I'm going to order them next week since we just got our fed. Tax refund back already!!!

Love the Mickey sneakers find.

Your AK plans look great too. I think I like the FN show better than FOTLK.

I swear my DH goes to AK just for EE. If it wasn't for EE he would want to skip it all together. I still like the safari.

Any vacation related mail is fun! Yay for tax refunds!

Oooh, new plans. I do love AK, and it's nice that you really can do almost everything there in a day! (If you can fit in the shows around your ride and meal schedules, lol.)
I'm gonna miss it this year, so I'll be looking forward to your TR!

I have never really understood why people don't like this park.

Fun AK plans! I'm hoping to catch the parade this year too. We usually get there for rope drop and leave after lunch, but one of our days has us arriving around 2pm this year. I'm hoping to catch the parade when it loops back around and returns to Africa. I just have to figure out the timing to make that work.

We LOVE Festival of the Lion King! We're planning to see that again this year too!

Those afternoon arrivals are tough to plan around. We haven't seen the parade since our 2007 trip, but I remember really liking it. Hopefully it will all work out for us to enjoy it this year.

What??????? No Flights of Wonder?

Oh shoot....did I forget to put that on the list??

I love my boys, and as a good mom, did it ONE TIME! That was enough for me!

 

[lsenquiz]

I think your AK plans look great!. Very similar to what we plan to do. We also have no problems completing everything in this park in one day.

 

[mommytothreeboys]

I think your AK plans look great!. Very similar to what we plan to do. We also have no problems completing everything in this park in one day.

Thanks! I really love AK...I think it is one of the most beautiful parks.

 

[Riles_and_Gabe]

Your plans sound awesome! You must be so excited now that you are down to 3 weeks!