A first time planners Pre-Trip Report!

[dekkerdisneydreamer]

Um, Starring Rolls. Yes, Kathy. Yes. Proof of this super fantastic Butterfinger Cupcake is below. I will attempt to always go there when I am in HS.

 

[KatMark]

Uh oh...you and Mo are stalking each other.

We grew up on the North side of Chicago (25 minutes from Wrigley is where we lived the first 10 years of marriage); we now live in Carol Stream in the western suburbs.

Don't feel bad; we obviously dropped our youngest son on his head...he's a PACKER FAN.

 

[Chicago Mo]

Packer fans....



That picture of the cupcake... MOUTHWATERING... the cheese danish in the background doesn't look so bad either!!!

 

[LoJoDisney]

Um, Starring Rolls. Yes, Kathy. Yes. Proof of this super fantastic Butterfinger Cupcake is below. I will attempt to always go there when I am in HS.

HOLY COW THAT CUPCAKE LOOKS GOOD! I think we will have to go there and split a sandwhich and one of those cupcakes FOR SURE!

Uh oh...you and Mo are stalking each other.

We grew up on the North side of Chicago (25 minutes from Wrigley is where we lived the first 10 years of marriage); we now live in Carol Stream in the western suburbs.

Don't feel bad; we obviously dropped our youngest son on his head...he's a PACKER FAN.

That's awesome that theres so many people from Chicago! I really like the North Suburbs so far (it's only been about 6 months ) I miss the city sometimes but I do NOT miss my commute to work. I work outside of the city so traffic was always just horrendous!

I really have no idea why my BF is a Packer Fan either since his whole family are Bears fans too!

Packer fans....

That picture of the cupcake... MOUTHWATERING... the cheese danish in the background doesn't look so bad either!!!

Hahaha I feel the exact same way about him being a Packers fan. He always trys to convert me but that will NEVER happen!

 

[LoJoDisney]

Hi DIS friends!! Sorry I've been MIA, I caught a cold at the lake this weekend and have been sick all week

Feeling a little better today and realizing I need to start updating my PTR because we're leaving in 26 DAYS!

Before I go into Day 4 of our trip, I thought I'd share some photos from my Lake Weekend! We spent the weekend in Indiana with my BF's family and our poodle- Sophie It was really nice and relaxing!


Here is Sophie before we left on Friday-



This was us tubing- I was soooo scared!


Here is Sophie sleeping on a chair our last night- I think she was worn out.



OK so now back to our Day 4 Plans at Disney!

EPCOT!

Sorry Mo- I'm not following you this day!

These are our Fast Passes for the day:

• Soarin- 10:35-11:35
• Mission Space- 11:40-12:40
• Maelstrom-1:30-2:30

We plan on getting to Epcot around opening and riding Test Track right when we get there.

I am planning on having lunch at Sunshine Seasons after we do Soarin and Living with the Land. Then we will head over to explore the World Show Case!

We are going to do a mixture of drinking/eating around the world! Neither one of us could ever drink that much, but I've read about some drinks that I rally do want to try!

We have an ADR at Chef De France at 7:30! After dinner we plan to stick around for Illuminations and then head back to the resort.



I'm really looking forward to Epcot because I honestly do not remember doing ANYTHING at Epcot when I was younger. I don't think my Dad and I really spent a lot of time there. I know we do have 2 Legacy tiles that he gave me the information for, so I can't wait to look for those!

I found even more old pictures so here they are!



This picture is from Castaway Cay when we did the Disney Cruise!


The picture below is from when my 8th grade Choir went to Disney World to perform! We sang at Cinderellas Castle and marched in a parade with choirs from around the United States! SUCH a cool experience!


I'm the 4th one from the left!

 

[Victoriasmom98]

Sophie is so cute and I just love the flower on her collar! I would be scared of tubing, too. I've never done it. Looks like you had fun! So, even though our fast passes don't match up, we'll also be in EPCOT on the 11th so maybe we'll run into you!!! We are also going to Chefs but early at 5pm. You should be getting magic bands soon as I just looked for the tracking number on my shipment and it says it's out for delivery!! Yahoo!!!

 

[Chicago Mo]

awesome pictures!!!! Love your puppy!!!!

OK. one day your not following me!

 

[KatMark]

I hear you on the cold. I've been sick for ten days now and it is getting really old fast.

Sophie is absolutely adorable! Who is watching Sophie while you are gone?

I love your Day 4 plans...FP+ selections and where you are dining. You made great choices.

Enjoyed the throwback pics as well. How cool that you did that with choirs from all over the US.

 

[MissMaryQC]

I adore your childhood trip pictures; nothing like some good nostalgia to get you in a Disney mood!!

I am loving your plans; you guys are going to have so much fun. While you're in France, maybe before dinner, try the Grand Mariner Slushy; it was the highlight of my last trip to Epcot; SUPER yummy!!

 

[SarahDisney]

EPCOT plans sound great!
It's a really great park and I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

Neither one of us could ever drink that much, but I've read about some drinks that I rally do want to try!

I'm with you on that. I don't know how people drink their way around the world and are still upright at the end of the day.

And I love the picture of your choir by the castle! It really must have been fun to be able to go with your friends and classmates and to perform at Disney!

 

[LoJoDisney]

Sophie is so cute and I just love the flower on her collar! I would be scared of tubing, too. I've never done it. Looks like you had fun! So, even though our fast passes don't match up, we'll also be in EPCOT on the 11th so maybe we'll run into you!!! We are also going to Chefs but early at 5pm. You should be getting magic bands soon as I just looked for the tracking number on my shipment and it says it's out for delivery!! Yahoo!!!

Thank you!! She got groomed right before we left because I didn't want her to have long hair in the lake! She normally doesn't look as poodley. She is my baby so I'm sure I will put more pictures up of her

Our trip is so similar!! I'm sure we will run into eachother. That reminds me- I still need to make my LGMH!

Have you been to Chefs before? I haven't but I've read good things about it!

awesome pictures!!!! Love your puppy!!!!

OK. one day your not following me!

Haha, it would be kind of freaky if we had the EXACT same trip plan!

Thank you- I love her too! If I wasn't so allergic to dogs, I would have gotten something like a great dane, I LOVE them! I wanted a really big dog...and I ended up with the runt haha Her dad was about 75 lbs but she is only 45. She's my baby though- she's a sweetheart.

I hear you on the cold. I've been sick for ten days now and it is getting really old fast.

Sophie is absolutely adorable! Who is watching Sophie while you are gone?

I love your Day 4 plans...FP+ selections and where you are dining. You made great choices.

Enjoyed the throwback pics as well. How cool that you did that with choirs from all over the US.

Ugh- you need to kick that cold too! I feel a little better, I just am stuffy and wheezy still (I have bad asthma).

Thank you! Sophie will be going to my old roommates parents house when we leave. Her and I lived in Wrigleyville for 2 years and when we traveled her parents would watch Sophie. They LOVE her so they've been waiting for a chance to have her again (which is GREAT for us!)

I adore your childhood trip pictures; nothing like some good nostalgia to get you in a Disney mood!!

I am loving your plans; you guys are going to have so much fun. While you're in France, maybe before dinner, try the Grand Mariner Slushy; it was the highlight of my last trip to Epcot; SUPER yummy!!

You are so right about the old pictures getting me into the Disney mood. I have searched boxes to find them all!

I heard about the Grand Mariner Slushy! That is one I really want to try!

EPCOT plans sound great!
It's a really great park and I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

I'm with you on that. I don't know how people drink their way around the world and are still upright at the end of the day.

And I love the picture of your choir by the castle! It really must have been fun to be able to go with your friends and classmates and to perform at Disney!

Thanks Sarah! I really can't remember much about Epcot AT ALL, which is so weird to me! I honestly don't know if we ever even walked through the World Showcase. I am so excited about it!

I actually forgot that I had pictures from when I went with choir so it was a great surprise when I found them!





So yesterday we got a VERY important delivery!!



I was so excited to open them! I really don't know if I want to decorate them or anything. I know DBF does not. I thought about maybe doing white dots for Minnie but I haven't decided.

We also got our luggage tags and ME tags. Does anyone have a preference when it comes to Magical Express and Luggage? I was thinking that when we got off the plane we would just pick up our own luggage and bring it with us so we have it right away, but I don't know if that will make us lose a lot of time or not.

ALSO- HAPPY FRIDAY EVERYONE! Tomorrow is DBF's birthday. I am surprising him with a gift every hour of his bday...sort of. I'm not sure how many I have right now, I need to still count and then hopefully it will be every hour that we're awake on his birthday, haha!

His main gifts though are the Mighty Duck Triology (that I got a really good deal on through the Disney Movie Club), a pair of crocks- that look like normal shoes for Disney, and a big Packers waterbottle/tumbler thing. The rest of the gifts are all little things like candy, notes, etc. I'm going to wrap it all in tissue paper and give them to him throughout the day.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekened!

 

[KatMark]

Ugh- you need to kick that cold too! I feel a little better, I just am stuffy and wheezy still (I have bad asthma).

Yes, I have a little of that wheezing going on myself. UGH!

Thank you! Sophie will be going to my old roommates parents house when we leave. Her and I lived in Wrigleyville for 2 years and when we traveled her parents would watch Sophie. They LOVE her so they've been waiting for a chance to have her again (which is GREAT for us!)

Awww...that's great.



So yesterday we got a VERY important delivery!!



YAY!

I was so excited to open them! I really don't know if I want to decorate them or anything. I know DBF does not. I thought about maybe doing white dots for Minnie but I haven't decided.

I know someone who did and all her dots started cracking. They have cute bands of just small little things you can put in the holes at Disney to decorate it...they aren't all that expensive.

We also got our luggage tags and ME tags. Does anyone have a preference when it comes to Magical Express and Luggage? I was thinking that when we got off the plane we would just pick up our own luggage and bring it with us so we have it right away, but I don't know if that will make us lose a lot of time or not.

When we don't rent a car, we just let ME take the luggage. However, it depends on what time of day you are arriving. If early, keep what you need in a backpack; if later and you don't want to wait the 2-3 hours for them to show up, take your luggage yourself.

ALSO- HAPPY FRIDAY EVERYONE! Tomorrow is DBF's birthday. I am surprising him with a gift every hour of his bday...sort of. I'm not sure how many I have right now, I need to still count and then hopefully it will be every hour that we're awake on his birthday, haha!

His main gifts though are the Mighty Duck Triology (that I got a really good deal on through the Disney Movie Club), a pair of crocks- that look like normal shoes for Disney, and a big Packers waterbottle/tumbler thing. The rest of the gifts are all little things like candy, notes, etc. I'm going to wrap it all in tissue paper and give them to him throughout the day.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekened!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DBF! I hope he has a great day...love your gift every hour idea.

 

[Victoriasmom98]

Your DBF is going to love his birthday! That's a very cute idea!! Oh yes, I was happy, happy, happy to receive the MBs!!! I've already put the stickers on them, so we are ready!! (well, at least the bands are!!) Our dogs are our babies, aren't they. Even my big 80 lbs yellow lab sits across me on the recliner since she thinks she's a lap dog!! She's going to Peter's secretary's house for the time we are gone. She has other dogs so Cutie will have someone to play with, instead of our cats to torture! No, I've never eaten at Chef's but I'm very excited to try it!

 

[SarahDisney]

Yay MagicBands!

For our last trip we let them handle our luggage, but we always do a park on arrival day, so we like to get there as soon as possible (and skipping baggage claim saves us a little time). If you're going to be spending time at the hotel after arrival, you may want to get your own luggage so that you have everything as soon as you get there (when they pick up your luggage for you, it takes a few hours for the stuff to get to your room). Usually getting your own bags doesn't take more than an extra 10-15 minutes (sometimes less), so as long as you're not rushing to get to the hotel, I'd recommend picking up your own luggage.

Happy birthday to your DBF! I'm sure he'll love the presents (after all, how could anyone not love the Mighty Ducks Trilogy) and really appreciate what you're doing for him!

 

[LoJoDisney]

Your DBF is going to love his birthday! That's a very cute idea!! Oh yes, I was happy, happy, happy to receive the MBs!!! I've already put the stickers on them, so we are ready!! (well, at least the bands are!!) Our dogs are our babies, aren't they. Even my big 80 lbs yellow lab sits across me on the recliner since she thinks she's a lap dog!! She's going to Peter's secretary's house for the time we are gone. She has other dogs so Cutie will have someone to play with, instead of our cats to torture! No, I've never eaten at Chef's but I'm very excited to try it!

Hi Victoria! Dogs seriously are like children! I love them and I love that big dogs are always the ones that think they are lap dogs! I'm glad Cutie has other dogs to play with while you are gone.

Yay MagicBands!

For our last trip we let them handle our luggage, but we always do a park on arrival day, so we like to get there as soon as possible (and skipping baggage claim saves us a little time). If you're going to be spending time at the hotel after arrival, you may want to get your own luggage so that you have everything as soon as you get there (when they pick up your luggage for you, it takes a few hours for the stuff to get to your room). Usually getting your own bags doesn't take more than an extra 10-15 minutes (sometimes less), so as long as you're not rushing to get to the hotel, I'd recommend picking up your own luggage.

Happy birthday to your DBF! I'm sure he'll love the presents (after all, how could anyone not love the Mighty Ducks Trilogy) and really appreciate what you're doing for him!

Hi Sarah! Thanks for the suggestions about the Magical Express! I think we probably will just grab our luggage because our first day we are just relaxing around the pool so I think I would like to be able to get our luggage and unpacked right when we get there. ( this smiley is too cute- I wish I was that happy when I was doing laundry! )

Question though- if this is our plan, should we just not attach the yellow luggage tags?!

Thank you! I'll be posting some pics from DBF's birthday! He loved it!

 

[LoJoDisney]

Hi everyone! Hope you all had a great weekend!

Mine was good, very busy, buy good.

Friday we went to our towns "summer days" because a band called "Mike & Joe" were playing and we love them! It was also the day before DBF's birthday so we had some of our friends over before and then we all went to the concert!



Here is a picture of us from that night.

Saturday was his actual birthday! I know I mentioned earlier I was planning on doing a gift every hour. He was born at 4:14AM so once we were awake, I gave him 14 gifts on the "14"...so 9:14, 10:14, etc.





Here was a picture I sent him from Sophie:


His super chocolate cake I made:



We went to Maggiano's for dinner and then went to visit some friends of his that night.

Sunday we went to church and then out for Breakfast. We were meeting 10 of Joes friends at breakfast and we ended up waiting AN HOUR AND A HALF! So it really ended up being lunch time.

Joe's family came over that afternoon for pizza, cake, and presents. Joe's mom got him a MICKEY SHIRT!

I was SO happy because every time I ask him if he'll wear one he says no but he really liked the one his mom picked out.


ON TO DISNEY PLANS!

Day 5- ANIMAL KINGDOM

Today Animal Kigdom has extra magic early hours so we will attempt to get there at 8AM!

Here our are FP+ Selections:

Expedition Everest: 11:00-12:00
Kilimanjaro Safari: 12:10-1:10
Kali River Rapids: 1:55-2:55

I want to try and ride Everest a few times in the AM because I know we both will love that!! We'll also do Dinosaur right when we get there too.

I'm hoping we can leave to go home around 3/4 and enjoy the resort a little bit.

We have dinner reservations this night at Victoria and Alberts (thanks to my Dad!) I am VERY excited for this evening because I loved going here with my Dad when I was younger. I still need to pick out a dress for this evening

Our reservations aren't until 9...I haven't decided if we will take a cab or try the busses.

 

[SarahDisney]

Hi Sarah! Thanks for the suggestions about the Magical Express! I think we probably will just grab our luggage because our first day we are just relaxing around the pool so I think I would like to be able to get our luggage and unpacked right when we get there. ( this smiley is too cute- I wish I was that happy when I was doing laundry! )

Question though- if this is our plan, should we just not attach the yellow luggage tags?!

Thank you! I'll be posting some pics from DBF's birthday! He loved it!

I feel the same way about laundry - it never makes me smile.

Definitely don't attach the yellow tags. I believe I saw somewhere that baggage handlers at the airport separate the bags with the DME tags before they get to baggage claim - so if you put the tags on, your luggage will never make it to a point where you can pick it up.

If you change your mind, I believe you can go to the DME desk at the airport and describe your luggage to them (and give them the luggage tag information from the airline if you have it) and they'll pick it up for you.

 

[KatMark]

Sounds like a really busy, but fun weekend (the cake looks awesome as do the gifts). mom got DBF a Mickey shirt that he likes and will wear.

Your Animal Kingdom day sounds great...except for the Expedition Everest part. And that's only because I cannot do it anymore.

I would take a cab...the fare won't be too much and for dinner I wouldn't rely on buses, especially that late at night.

 

[RooRach0906]

Yay for Mickey Mail!!!!

Happy Belated Birthday to your DBF!! It sounds like you guys had a good time celebrating. I love the idea of a gift on the minute of every hour they are born.

I understand the busy weekend ours was too. My Best friend and my one sister birthday was friday so we spent the weekend celebrating with both. Must be something about Aug or maybe the summer lol.

Your day at Animal Kingdom looks great. I love downtime at the resorts.

 

[Sisa]

Joining in

I am enjoying your PTR and seeing your plans. Thank you for posting a picture of the custom maps. I thought about doing that for my family, but wasn't sure. I am definitely doing it after seeing your post.

Your itineraries are super awesome too!

I love how you had a present for every hour for Joe's birthday, super clever!

I am excited to read more about your plans and more importantly about your trip.