A first time planners Pre-Trip Report!

[LoJoDisney]

This is how I've felt the majority of the time the past few months

DAY 1:

On September 8th at about 6AM we will be heading to the Milwaukee airport. My boyfriend tells me that it's not a very crowded airport, which will be nice because I am used to Ohare.

We should arrive in Orlando around 10:30 and will grab our luggage and head to the Magical Express. I think I want to get our luggage rather than let ME take care of it, just because that makes me nervous.

The plan when we get to our resort (CBR) are first to explore the resort and relax! I'm so excited for the CBR hammocks.

Then we want to go do a Monorail resort tour and probably stop at GF, Poly, & Contemporary to have a drink in their lounges before dinner at 7:55PM at Chef Mickeys!

After dinner we are going to go out to the beach on Bay Lake and watch Wishes and hopefully catch the Electrical Water Pageant!

DAY 2:

Magic Kingdom!

We have ADR at Crystal Palace at 8AM that I just made this past weekend! Thanks to the September Disney Planning group on Facebook I was able to coordinate with someone cancelling. I was so excited that now we'll be able to be in the Park before opening!

The only sad part was that we'll miss the opening ceremony that day which I have never seen.

The rest of the day we have a touring plan figured out and have fast passes for the following:

• Mine Train- 11:45-12:45
• Space Mountain 12:45-1:45
• Splash Mountain 1:45-2:45

I am going to TRY and get FP Reservations for BOG Lunch, otherwise we'll probably just eat randomly wherever we feel like it.

This is a MNSSHP day and we are not attending the party. We have 8:30 reservations at Fort Wilderness for Hoop-De-Doo Revue! My dad and I used to go to this every year when we would go and I remember it being so much fun! Now that I'm an adult....I hear the unlimited sangria is VERY good

After our dinner show, back to CBR!

Here is part of a planning template I used for our itinerary! I blocked out day 3 because that's up next! The reason it says "JOLO FAMILY" is because this is what my brother calls Joe & I. He's always called me LO so it fits well.

 

[Victoriasmom98]

Hi Lauren.....your plans look great!!! Unfortunately we are there on the 10th and 16th now. Bummer.....but I don't know the rest of your days and I'll patiently wait until you post to see if any of our other days line up.

LGMH used to be the Disney paint chips they used to have at Home Depot (it was the "alien green" color I believe. If you were a Dis'er, you would attach these to your bags, lanyards, etc so that others would know you are on the boards. Home Depot no longer carries them, but you can make them yourself. Here are some pictures:




I always wear one on my backsack to welcome people to say hi to me! Just a thought!!

 

[Chicago Mo]

I still have my LGMH on my bags too!!!

Sept 8th and on the 9th we will be in MK!!!

 

[KatMark]

I go away for a short weekend to Vegas and come back and you have some new readers.

I love your first two day of plans. I have to say that getting into the MK before the park opens is worth missing the opening show and then eating with Pooh and friends. You can't beat it.

 

[LoJoDisney]

Hi Lauren.....your plans look great!!! Unfortunately we are there on the 10th and 16th now. Bummer.....but I don't know the rest of your days and I'll patiently wait until you post to see if any of our other days line up.

LGMH used to be the Disney paint chips they used to have at Home Depot (it was the "alien green" color I believe. If you were a Dis'er, you would attach these to your bags, lanyards, etc so that others would know you are on the boards. Home Depot no longer carries them, but you can make them yourself. Here are some pictures:




I always wear one on my backsack to welcome people to say hi to me! Just a thought!!

Hopefully some of our other days will align!

Thanks for explaining the LGMH!! I now have another craft to make to keep me busy before we leave! I'll make sure to make one to carry on our bags!

I still have my LGMH on my bags too!!!

Sept 8th and on the 9th we will be in MK!!!

Yay! That's great we'll be in MK on the same day! Maybe we will get a chance to meet!

Also, I don't know if I asked you before-what part of Chicago are you from?

I go away for a short weekend to Vegas and come back and you have some new readers.

I love your first two day of plans. I have to say that getting into the MK before the park opens is worth missing the opening show and then eating with Pooh and friends. You can't beat it.

I know, I love it! DIS FRIENDS!

Thanks for the re-assurance too about getting to the park before opening! I can't wait to get some good pictures! I'm still trying to figure out if we can take the bus that early or if we'll need to get a taxi though.

 

[ZehnJahren]

I'm used to O'Hare too, but I guess I always end up on the not-crowded side since it never seemed any busier to me than any other airport I've been in. I hear people say that O'Hare is so busy and I think "no more than Midway" . I'm CERTAIN I've just lucked out - I've only flown out of there 5 or 6 times.

Congrats on the Crystal Palace ADR!! You've got good FP+ times; you'll probably be able to get at least a 4th FP with those times.

I like your itinerary set up, too!

 

[LoJoDisney]

We are only 33 Days away from being in Disney!!

I saw this UP photo & quote on pinterest & had to share it because it's adorable I am getting more and more excited to share my first Disney trip with Joe and I'm so happy he's excited too!



UP was one of the first movies we bought once we joined the Disney Movie Club. Our movie collection has grown so much and I love re-watching classics and watching new Disney movies too! We just watched this new one last weekend and I have to admit I cried like a baby! If you haven't seen it yet, I would definitely recommend it! I also found this picture of My Dad, Mary Poppins, and I from a trip when I was younger!






I also just found these chap sticks at Target & couldn't pass them up. I love Minnie!



Ok so back on topic-

DAY 3- 9/10/14

Hollywood Studios

After a late night at Hoop-De-Doo, we will be waking up VERY early and getting to Hollywood Studios at park opening.

We have FP+ reservations for the following:

• Rockin Roller Coast- 11:30-12:30
• Tower of Terror- 1:15-2:15
• Star Tours- 2:15-3:15

Toy Story Mania is new since the last time I was here (I still call DHS, MGM- its so hard not too!) but I hear that this is a MUST ride and it gets very crowded so we are going to try and do this right when we get there!

If lines are short for Rockin Roller Coaster & Tower of Terror before our fast passes come up we are going to try and ride those too!

We want to have an early QS lunch this day because our dinner reservations are early. We looked up some menus and couldn't decide since there weren't too many options. We'll just grab whatever looks good!

We then have ADR at Sci Fi Diner at 4:35. Originally I had booked the Fantasmic Package at Mama Melrose but the more I talked about our trip I kept realizing how I wasn't really looking forward to that meal and sad that Joe wouldn't get to go to Sci Fi because I really thought he would enjoy it. So I decided to change it and hope it isn't too crowded to get into Fantasmic!



I also found this picture of me @ Crystal Palace. I believe this was when I was 9 or 10 so over 15 years ago!

 

[KatMark]

Great Day 3 plans.

I would grab something at Starring Rolls. The sandwiches are big enough to split, especially with an early ADR for dinner.

I hope you get on TSM...it is such a great attraction (I'd FP it and do a walk on for Star Tours...usually that one isn't too bad).

***Cute pics when you were little.

 

[Victoriasmom98]

I just love your flashback photos! so awesome! Your DHS day looks great! We love Sci Fi and I don't think you'll be disappointed! Some of the servers are actually on rollerskates! (or were last year!). Keep those plans rolling!!!

 

[moe10378]

Love the countdown!!! Won't be long!!! We are heading out at the end if the Sept!!!! Following along!

 

[SarahDisney]

Just started reading this and I love your plans so far.

I love the pictures of you at Disney as a kid ... they're great! I hope your DBF learns the true magic of Disney on the trip and you guys can keep going back together!

 

[CuriouserDinah]

I love your countdown! I need to make one of those asap. It's so cute! I'm so excited about my first upcoming trip. Can't stop obsessing either!

 

[MissMaryQC]

Your trip looks like so much fun! I love that you two are watching Disney movies and crafting to get in the spirit! You got some really good FP+ options (gives me hope for our trip next year). I hope your fella likes Sci-Fi Dine-In; it's my sister's favorite and since we haven't been as a group in 10 years I promised her and ADR. Can't wait to see the rest!!

 

[RooRach0906]

Your plans look great!

I feel like a big monkey wrench has been put in my plans now that supposedly they are extending the frozen summer celebration at DHS.

 

[LoJoDisney]

I'm used to O'Hare too, but I guess I always end up on the not-crowded side since it never seemed any busier to me than any other airport I've been in. I hear people say that O'Hare is so busy and I think "no more than Midway" . I'm CERTAIN I've just lucked out - I've only flown out of there 5 or 6 times.

Congrats on the Crystal Palace ADR!! You've got good FP+ times; you'll probably be able to get at least a 4th FP with those times.

I like your itinerary set up, too!

I haven't flown in awhile now that I think about it, I just remember always rushing through O'Hare and it being crowded! Are you from IL??

I started reading your trip report as well

Great Day 3 plans.

I would grab something at Starring Rolls. The sandwiches are big enough to split, especially with an early ADR for dinner.

I hope you get on TSM...it is such a great attraction (I'd FP it and do a walk on for Star Tours...usually that one isn't too bad).

***Cute pics when you were little.

Thanks for the advise with Starring Rolls! That sounds like a perfect idea.

I thought that with DHS Fastpasses you had to follow the tiers so I had to choose between Rockin Rollercoaster & TSM. I think if we get there right at ropedrop we'll be ok though!

Thanks, I found some more pictures too so I will be including those in future posts too!

I just love your flashback photos! so awesome! Your DHS day looks great! We love Sci Fi and I don't think you'll be disappointed! Some of the servers are actually on rollerskates! (or were last year!). Keep those plans rolling!!!

Thank you!! I went when I was younger to Sci Fi and really loved it! I'm picky when looking at menus because I don't eat a lot of meat now...mostly vegetarian but I eat seafood too.

Love the countdown!!! Won't be long!!! We are heading out at the end if the Sept!!!! Following along!

Thank you! Welcome, I'm glad you are here! I am going to head over to your PTR!

Just started reading this and I love your plans so far.

I love the pictures of you at Disney as a kid ... they're great! I hope your DBF learns the true magic of Disney on the trip and you guys can keep going back together!

Hi Sarah! Thanks for joining I really hope he does- I can't imagine someone not loving it.

I love your countdown! I need to make one of those asap. It's so cute! I'm so excited about my first upcoming trip. Can't stop obsessing either!

Hi Dinah! Thanks! You should, it helps with all of the excitement! I'm glad you understand the obsessing over the trips! The DIS Boards have helped me so much because before I think I was starting to annoy people talking about my trip so much!!

Your trip looks like so much fun! I love that you two are watching Disney movies and crafting to get in the spirit! You got some really good FP+ options (gives me hope for our trip next year). I hope your fella likes Sci-Fi Dine-In; it's my sister's favorite and since we haven't been as a group in 10 years I promised her and ADR. Can't wait to see the rest!!

Thanks! I hope he does too! I like watching the movies because a lot of the ones he has seen, I haven't- vice versa so its really fun! I'm just glad he is enjoying it too!

Also- I got all of the FP+ options I was planning on getting. I just got on my computer right at midnight!

 

[MissMaryQC]

I got all of the FP+ options I was planning on getting. I just got on my computer right at midnight!

Awesome! We have a plan of attack for FP+ and ADRs; as early as possible and we have each been assigned specific ones to get. We have time, but with all the new stuff at Disney I don't want to miss anything!!

 

[Chicago Mo]

I agree with Kathy and Starring rolls!! NUM!

Im South East next to the lake and Indiana. In Chicago.

So looks like i am stalking you without knowing it. As we will be in HS on the 10... HA HA HA HA

Also at Scifi but ours is at 1:35!

if you say AK on the 11... then that's you following me.

 

[Britbrie]

Awesome job so far!! Can't wait to hear more about your plans!!

 

[LoJoDisney]

Awesome! We have a plan of attack for FP+ and ADRs; as early as possible and we have each been assigned specific ones to get. We have time, but with all the new stuff at Disney I don't want to miss anything!!

It is crazy how much things have changed and how far ahead you have to plan. I know some people don't like it as much because there is so much planning involved, but I love planning things so I don't mind. I like that I feel so involved in my vacation way before it even starts!

I agree with Kathy and Starring rolls!! NUM!

Im South East next to the lake and Indiana. In Chicago.

So looks like i am stalking you without knowing it. As we will be in HS on the 10... HA HA HA HA

Also at Scifi but ours is at 1:35!

if you say AK on the 11... then that's you following me.

I grew up in the south suburbs of Chicago I live almost in Wisconsin now (not quite though). It is so different up North than where I grew up though. I like it besides the fact that my BF is a Packers fan

I love that our schedule is the same so far! I think I might have to change the 10th so I'm not stalking you.... hahaha Just kidding, I think we finally might be going our own ways that day!

Awesome job so far!! Can't wait to hear more about your plans!!

Thank you! Glad you are reading along!



I will be updating next week- were going to a Lake in Indiana for the weekend with DBF's family! Hope everyone has a great weekend!

 

[ZehnJahren]

I haven't flown in awhile now that I think about it, I just remember always rushing through O'Hare and it being crowded! Are you from IL??

I started reading your trip report as well

Yes, I'm in IL! Northwest 'burbs in Chicago. I'm moving in a month, though; I'm so ready to go!

Thanks for joining me too! Have a great weekend trip!