4 + 1 = happy memories? I hope so! NEW: Final thoughts!

[carissanboys]

Hi Liz

I'm really enjoying your pre-trip report! I'll have to check out your other completed trippie when I get a chance.

Thanks for the tip on the pennypinching/coupon website! That looks great I also love a bargain and I love to save money.

Your Epcot day looks a lot like ours. Last trip we spent quite a bit of time in Future World, spread across two days. So, this time the plan is to focus on the World Showcase. And dh and I have an ADR at Le Cellier that evening. I can't wait for that!

Glad to hear your daughter's ankle has healed nicely. Can't wait to read more!

 

[Donald is #1]

Chances are anyone reading this is going to say to themselves there's no way we'll get everything done that's listed here! I know that but I like to plan an optimistic itinerary and we just go from there!

Your plan definitely looks packed. But then again, I take the opposite approach. I pick 2-3 highlights (attractions) for the day and then make those my must do's. I then continue going to lots of other attractions. For me this method works. Both styles work, we just approach it differently.

 

[Liz]

December 18 - Tuesday

Take bus or drive to MGM


RnR

ToT

Little Mermaid - 17 min. (skip and go directly to B&B if there isn't time for this)

Beauty & the Beast and “Four for a Dollar” - 30 min. - Get seats at 10:30 for 11:00 show

LUNCH (11:30-12:00)

Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular - 30 min. - Get seats at 12:15 for 12:45 show

Great Movie Ride - 28 min.

Backlot Tour - 40 min.

Mulch, Sweat & Tears – New York Street (30 min.) - 3:30 show

Lights, Motor, Action – 4:15

DINNER - 50's Prime Time Cafe - 5:10

Osborne lights – 6 PM

Fantasmic – 8 PM - 25 min.



Not on Itinerary - no where to put them!

Star Tours – 10 min.

Muppets – 30 min.

Magic of Disney Animation (note-no restrooms inside)

One Man’s Dream

Streetmosphere performers

 

[Liz]

Hi Liz

I'm really enjoying your pre-trip report! I'll have to check out your other completed trippie when I get a chance.

Thanks for the tip on the pennypinching/coupon website! That looks great I also love a bargain and I love to save money.

Your Epcot day looks a lot like ours. Last trip we spent quite a bit of time in Future World, spread across two days. So, this time the plan is to focus on the World Showcase. And dh and I have an ADR at Le Cellier that evening. I can't wait for that!

Glad to hear your daughter's ankle has healed nicely. Can't wait to read more!

Hi! Just read your pre-trip report! Its great! I can't wait to follow along with your planning!

We haven't ever eaten at LeCellier! Looking forward to it!

 

[Liz]

Your plan definitely looks packed.

I know! Even though I said I like going with the optimistic approach it does give me some stress to look at it! I wish I could have more of a "go with the flow" attitude. I do better once I get there but in the pre-trip stage I obsess with trying to make everything perfect. And we all know trying for perfection just leads to disappointment! Thanks for stopping by and saying hi!

 

[Liz]

December 19 – Wednesday

NOTE: We can sleep in a little today. Need to be at the boat dock by 9:30.
Breakfast @ Chef Mickeys - 10:10

After breakfast take bus from Contemporary to Animal Kingdom. Tonight is AK's evening EMH. Closes 9 PM

Non-EMH Attractions

Flights of Wonder – 30 min. - 1:00

Kilamanjaro Safari

Pangani Forest trail

Rafaki's Planet Watch

Maharajah Jungle Trek - not very many animals will be out if its a really cold day

Finding Nemo, The Musical - 38 min.

EMH Attractions

Expedition Everest

Triceratop Spin

Primevil Whirl

Dinosaur

Kali

Its Tough to be a Bug - 8 min.

Festival of the Lion King - 25 min.

 

[Liz]

December 20 – Thursday


EPCOT: Need to be in the car, ready to leave Wilderness Lodge by 7:30! Epcot parking lot should open at 8 AM.

SEGWAY TOUR
Tour begins 8:30 AM – be there 8:15
Photo ID required

If we are dying tired and need a nap we could return to WL after the Segways for a couple of hours to nap, then return to Epcot for the afternoon and evening.

Spend rest of the day seeing Future World attractions and any World Showcase entertainment we missed Monday.

Soarin’

Listen to the Land

Journey Into Imagination

Image Works - have e-mail addresses handy

Test Track

Mission Space - green is the no spin version, orange is the ride in its original format

Disney VISA picture – 1:30 – 4:30 – Innoventions West - Don't forget to pick up free picture and try to do it before end of evening when lines get very long!

Turtle Talk w/ Crush

The Seas with Nemo - only if the line is not long

Living Seas exhibits

World Showcase: Opens 11:00 - see anything we missed last time or would like to see again

Entertainment not on Monday's schedule:

China:
Acrobats - Shows: 2:55 - 4:15 - 5:15 - 6:15 - 7:15 (15 min.)

Italy:
Sergio - Shows: 11:55 - 1:15 - 2:15 - 3:00 - 4:00 - 5:00 (20 min.)

United Kingdom:
World Showcase players - Shows: 11:30 - 12:30 - 1:30 - 3:30 - 5:00 (25 min.)

Canada: O Canada - movie (new)


Epcot Attractions – easy to see anytime

Ellens Energy Adventure

Club Cool (formerly Ice Station Cool)

Innoventions West – closest to Soarin

Think Place - 12-person group 'Thing-a-ma-jig' space race game allows you to build your own ship and race it against other guests through a series of caverns and rivers while you attempt to collect as many IBM 'innovations' as you can.

Where's the Fire? - game with two teams

Jammitors - 10:10 - 11:15 - 12:15 - 1:20

Innoventions East - close to Test Track

Internet Zone – virtual game of Tag

Fantastic Plastics – free robot

Test the limits lab - product testing

Jammitors - 10:20 - 11:25 - 12:25 - 2:30

Mission Space - Space Base (games in exit area)

Honey I Shrunk the Audience

Circle of Life - film


Tree lighting ceremony - 6 PM

DINNER: Biergarten 6:55

Illuminations - 9:30

 

[Liz]

I'm giving our itinerary one last go over and printing it out because I'm not leaving that sucker home again! (Now watch I'll leave something really important home this time!)

The pre-trip nightmares have officially begun as of last night. It was awful! We were at Disney World and I realized I left all of Laura's anti-rejection medicine at home. For some reason I hadn't looked at my packing list to prepare for this trip and didn't bring the most important thing of all, her medicine. I tried calling the transplant coordinator at home to see if they could call a pharmacy in Florida but couldn't reach anyone. Then I decided our pet sitter could put all the bottles in a padded envelope and overnight it to us but she would still miss at least a couple of doses (she takes it twice a day.) It was A W F U L.

Then Jeff and Kelsee wanted to go off on their own saying they would meet us for dinner. I was sad thinking this isn't going to be fun at all with them always wanting to go off and do their own thing.

I keep meaning to call CRO and put a room request on our reservation but haven't gotten to it yet. In yet another nightmare we got a room in some weird location right in the middle of the lobby!

Unbelieveably I had another nightmare (all last night) not related to our trip but I borrowed my friend's tape that she uses to record Survivor since I missed it last Thursday and in my nightmare I forgot to give it back so she missed the show this week because she wasn't home and I had her tape!

Needless to say I guess I'm a teensy bit stressed!!!!! I had the worst headache when I woke up this morning!!!

 

[Liz]

December 21 – Friday


Sleep in and be at marina at 10 AM.

Rent Sea Racers. Marina hours 10 AM - 5 PM.

Note: Today we have several options.


Option 1
Rent boats
Return to Animal Kingdom for a few hours.
AK closes at 6 PM
Dinner at 1900 Park Fare (Grand Floridian).

Option 2
Rent boats
Return to MGM

Option 3
Rent boats
Hang around the Lodge during the day.
Return to MGM for nighttime only.

Option 4
Rent boats
Go to Magic Kingdom for just a couple of hours to see the castle lighting ceremony and/or Wishes or whatever we would like to do.
Magic Kingdom closes early for the Christmas party so we couldn't be there at night.
Dinner would be 1900 Park Fare.

Option 5
Any other suggestions?



Today is meant to be an easy day since we have had so many full ones!
Pack up to prepare for move to Pop the following day.

 

[Liz]

December 22 - Saturday - OUR LAST FULL DAY!

Check out of WILDERNESS LODGE and into POP CENTURY.
Hopefully this won't take too long and we can get to Magic Kingdom.


See the things we missed or want to repeat.

Do not miss CHRISTMAS PARADE, WISHES and SPECTRO.



Not on itinerary our first MK day:

Dumbo - do not even attempt this unless we are at the Fantasyland rope drop

Winnie the Pooh

Peter Pan's Flight

Snow White

Mad Tea Party

Small World

Toon Town


Mickeys Very Merry Christmas Parade - 3 PM


Wishes - 9 PM


Spectro - 8 & 10 PM - See 10:00 parade because its definitely less crowded

 

[Liz]

December 23 - Sunday

Breakfast: Pop food court
Be in food court for TWIST!

Leave Pop by 9 AM and take Kelsee to airport (she's going home to spend Christmas with her family.)

Drive to Jacksonville to spend Christmas with my mom!

 

[Liz]

Here are a couple of pics to put names with faces!

Kelsee & Jeff

Jacksonville beach - Christmas day 2006 - Jeff, me and Laura. Kels wasn't on that trip so Jeff was on the phone with her! It wasn't beach weather but how often can you say you were at the ocean on Christmas day? Well not very often when you live in Utah!

Paul and Pocahontas

 

[MARY-IN-OH]

Beautiful pictures, Liz! Jeff & Kelsee look really happy together, the pic at the beach does look a little chilly! But, after the snowy weather we had here this morning, I'd take the beach any day! (we left FL on 12/24 in 06, we were by Ft Myers at my in-laws and it was windy and really foggy.)

(oh, and boy do I know those pre-disney nightmares! I get them before every trip too...)
-mary

 

[Liz]

Beautiful pictures, Liz! Jeff & Kelsee look really happy together, the pic at the beach does look a little chilly! But, after the snowy weather we had here this morning, I'd take the beach any day! (we left FL on 12/24 in 06, we were by Ft Myers at my in-laws and it was windy and really foggy.)

(oh, and boy do I know those pre-disney nightmares! I get them before every trip too...)
-mary

I bet that picture of Jeff on the phone with Kelsee reminded you of your son with his girlfriend last trip!

Tomorrow we are supposed to get between 6-12" of snow! YIKES! I hope the weather is good the day we fly out to Florida!

 

[Liz]

I keep going back and forth on our itinerary for the 22nd, our last day at Disney and we are spending it at the Magic Kingdom.

Here's the info I've got to work with!

We need to move from the Wilderness Lodge to Pop sometime during the day.

Let the WL move our luggage or just take it in our car? If we stay at MK till it closes at 11:00 I don't want to come back to Pop at midnight and try to hunt down our luggage.

At MK we definitely want to see the Christmas parade at 3:00, Wishes at 9:00 and Spectro at 10:00. We have dinner reservations at 6:00. So basically we need to be at MK no later than 2:00.

We likely haven't done any Fantasyland attractions at this point.

Don't want us to be so tired we won't feel up to staying at the park till it closes.

So with all those things in mind - Should we:

Be at MK when it opens.
Ride Fantasyland attractions and maybe a few other things.
Go back to WL, drive to Pop and check in.
Thought I would ask for any location at all that may be available (hoping to be able to move luggage into the room at that point.)
Go back to MK for the rest of the evening.

OR

Leave WL and check in Pop first thing.
Spend the rest of the day at MK.

What would you do? Other suggestions? Would you let WL move your luggage to Pop or not? Like I said I don't want to have to hunt it down late, late at night.

 

[Liz]

We leave in 9 days and I have so much to do its ridiculous. (So why am I sitting at the computer? Maybe because I'm so tired and had about 5 hours sleep last night so this is all I feel like doing while I wait for Laura to get home so I can go to bed!)

Last night, after working all day, I drove down to see Jeff perform in his last band concert at college.

It's 2 hours 15 minutes one way.

WHEN EVERYTHING GOES RIGHT!!

I ended up going alone (not the best idea) and I don't see very well to drive at night. Not a good combination!

Oh, and did I mention I wasn't paying real close attention to my surroundings because I was distracted by the camels.

Who weren't camels at all when I got closer but horses in a big group and the head of one looked like a hump on another . . . .

And right by them was a horse with his eyes all covered with a blindfold. Being an animal lover that really disturbed me because I didn't think it looked like something he would enjoy wearing.

So back to my travels . . . .

Since my mind was distracted by the horse/camel/blindfold situation I lost track of where I was.

Did I mention I was taking back roads through the middle of no where? I do fine taking this route in the daytime but as I mentioned I don't see as well as I should at night.

Back to the story if anyone cares to follow along.

I was supposed to turn left when I saw a sign for the sand dunes. I thought I had passed it so I figured I better turn around. This was a narrow road with one lane each direction and big ravines on each side.

Carefully but quickly I turned around before any cars came and started back the direction I had come.

After going awhile I thought this can't be it and I figured I shouldn't have turned around.

So you guessed it.

I turned around again. Turn, back, forward, back, try not to fall off the road.

Nothing was looking familiar. It wasn't pitch dark but more dusky. Could someone turn on a light please?

So back for the second time I headed down the road. I went much further and I didn't see the sand dunes sign. I really had no idea where I was and started to cry. Jeff called to see if I was coming and I boo-hooed to him then lost my cell service in the middle of no where.

I turned around on this narrow road a third time and debated just heading back home. I knew I could find my way there but I also knew Jeff really wanted me at this concert.

There was another road that went through a bunch of small towns. I knew it was the wrong road but I thought it would get me there (indirectly) so I took it. Part of it went 30 mph through a winding mountain pass. Still crying but trying to stop because I needed to be able to see!!!

To make a long story short eventually I made it to Jeff's college with 7 minutes to spare. The 2 hour 15 min. trip took exactly 3 hours. I still don't know if I went too far or didn't go far enough but I will never, ever go that way at night again, even though its shorter than taking the freeway (which I took coming home).

When I was sitting in the auditorium during the first band (not Jeff's) I still had tears rolling down my face because I wasn't finished with my pity party yet. I started debating the pros and cons of when we should check into Pop Century on our last day at Disney (see post above) to get my mind on something else and dry up my messy face! Jeff's concert was EXCELLENT and in spite of all the troubles I'm so glad I went!

So that's why I'm tired and sitting here instead of packing.

And Laura just got home so I can go to bed!

Nite all!

 

[Donald is #1]

So with all those things in mind - Should we:

Be at MK when it opens.
Ride Fantasyland attractions and maybe a few other things.
Go back to WL, drive to Pop and check in.
Thought I would ask for any location at all that may be available (hoping to be able to move luggage into the room at that point.)
Go back to MK for the rest of the evening.

OR

Leave WL and check in Pop first thing.
Spend the rest of the day at MK.

What would you do? Other suggestions? Would you let WL move your luggage to Pop or not? Like I said I don't want to have to hunt it down late, late at night.

Since you have a car, I would put your luggage in the car and then drive over to the Pop and check in. I would then leave the car there and take a bus to the MK.

I would do it in this pattern so that I wasn't thinking all day about having to check in at the Pop after 10:30 in the evening and it minimizes the time spent traveling back & forth.

 

[Liz]

Since you have a car, I would put your luggage in the car and then drive over to the Pop and check in. I would then leave the car there and take a bus to the MK.

I would do it in this pattern so that I wasn't thinking all day about having to check in at the Pop after 10:30 in the evening and it minimizes the time spent traveling back & forth.

Thank you! That's what I was thinking but kept waffling due to wanting to hit the Fantasyland attractions at rope drop. If we got up real early and went to Pop and still tried to make it to MK rope drop I doubt we would have the energy to stay till closing.

Did you notice as my itinerary got towards the end of the week it started looking more like yours with just the few highlights we wanted to be sure and see?

Good grief, its turning into an absolute blizzard outside. Better leave for work! Hope you (and everyone else) has a great day!

 

[TheDISneyFamily]

Hi Liz!!! I found you! This is Michelle (mlill) with my new screen name. (I'm not sure if you knew that I changed it.) I remembered that you were going back to WDW for Christmas! I'm so happy to find your pre-TR! It looks like you have your plans all set... well, except for your last day... I agree with Donald is #1's suggestion. You guys are going to have such a great time! Take lots of pictures, OK?!

Your getting lost in the dark wilderness story was scary! We did the same thing going to some friends' house a few weeks ago. DH thought that he would take the scenic route... needless to say... we saw way more scenery than we wanted to! We took the interstate back home, just like you did. LOL! I'm glad you made it to Jeff's concert in one piece!

If I don't get a chance to tell you before you leave...

Have a great time in WDW!!! ​

Take care,
Michelle

 

[Liz]

Hi Liz!!! I found you! This is Michelle (mlill) with my new screen name. (I'm not sure if you knew that I changed it.) I remembered that you were going back to WDW for Christmas! I'm so happy to find your pre-TR! It looks like you have your plans all set... well, except for your last day... I agree with Donald is #1's suggestion. You guys are going to have such a great time! Take lots of pictures, OK?!

Your getting lost in the dark wilderness story was scary! We did the same thing going to some friends' house a few weeks ago. DH thought that he would take the scenic route... needless to say... we saw way more scenery than we wanted to! We took the interstate back home, just like you did. LOL! I'm glad you made it to Jeff's concert in one piece!

If I don't get a chance to tell you before you leave...

Have a great time in WDW!!! ​

Take care,
Michelle

Michelle! Hi!! So glad you stopped by my little pre-trippie! I did not know you changed your screen name so I'm glad you came over to say hi ! I can't wait to catch up on your October trip! Your family just seems so sweet. I love reading about your adventures! I'm so busy trying to get everything done in the next six days so I'm thinking about printing out your TR and reading it on the plane! Doesn't that sound so fun?!!!

Merry Christmas to your family!!