A Pirate Looks at 40! - PTR for Dec 12-20th!(NEW 12/11 - Final Update!)

[If U Had Wings]

However, this trip, we are choosing to hop several times, but this is mostly in order to see as much of the christmas decor / shows as we possibly can. It also allows us to eat more dinners at Epcot, but that is more of a side benefit.

I think the hopper feature is perfect for this exact reason. I always get the hopper, but honestly most of the time I only hop one or two days out of a trip. Usually those are the days I split off from my family, and on the last day we consider a "bounce" day. We usually get alot of use out of the hopper that last day as we go back and visit everything we want to ride one more time. This trip I'm planning on hopping more, specfically to see the holiday decor at the various resorts.

The only park that makes me remotely want to hop is DHS. While we *could* probably spend a full day there, and have in the past, this is the park that least interests our entire family. DD only likes about 3 things in the whole park. (TSMM, HiSTK Playground, and Playhouse Disney - she doesn't even really want to do B&tB and VotLM because she doesn't like the scary parts.) DW likes TSMM and the Muppet...and that's about it. I like ToT and RnRC, as well as TSMM and Indiana Jones...and that's about it. While us parents like things like B&tB and VotLM, we can take or leave them after we have seen them the last few trips. We also don't really care that much about Fantasmic! While I like the show OK, I find stretches of it kind of boring. DW was not impressed, and DD also deemed it "too scary" when she saw it last trip, which didn't surprise me at all.

I'm convinced that I have the strangest niece ever. My younger one is the complete opposite of your DD. She loves DHS because she loves the scary stuff. Weird kid. She was only 2 our first trip and when the other little kids were crying in VotLM she was cheering for Ursula. She still insists to us that Ursula's not really mean, just misunderstood.

But, the one thing at DHS I definitely don't want to miss is the Osborne Lights. This to me will be something that will really get us in the christmas spirit for the trip. And, it makes a perfect opportunity to use our hoppers.

I can't wait to see this either. Especially as there are no Lights of Winter running at Epcot this year.

- 11 AM Festival of the Lion King - our only "don't miss" show at WDW each trip. Possibly go and get a few autographs right before or after in Camp M-M.

FotLK is my hands down favorite part of AK. Last year I had to miss it because we only had time for one show and everyone else wanted to see Nemo. I'm not missing it for anything this year.

- 3:45 PM is the Jingle Jangle Jungle parade. I am generally underwhelmed by daytime parades, but being a christmas exclusive I thought we should check it out.

I agree with you on most of the parades, although if I had to pick one afternoon parade to watch it would be the AK one. I've caught it before and it was fun. The Christmas one might be worth making a point to check out.

- From AKL we head to DHS for the Obsorne lights. Other things I am thinking we will try to hit while there - Star Tours (if no line, or FP), The Muppets 3-D, and Playhouse Disney Dance party once the EMH starts.

Your DD might get a kick out of looking for the key under the mat at the muppets at the entrance to the theater. My nieces did, and had to make a point of showing it to me our last trip.

 

[EMom]

OK, so here is the plan:
- 9 AM Rope drop at AK, we head for the Safari with the masses. After that, we walk the Pangori Forest Trail...followed by some time checking out the tree of life. (We love AK, but not for the rides per se...it is my favorite park to just wander in. I wish we could have 2 full days here every trip, but sometimes it is just not possible.)
- 11 AM Festival of the Lion King - our only "don't miss" show at WDW each trip. Possibly go and get a few autographs right before or after in Camp M-M.
- 11:50 AM Lunch and Tusker House - most people seem to gravitate to the Character breakfast here, but last year we tried this buffet for the first time, and it was hands down our favorite meal. DW and I can wait to eat here again.
-

Hey! If I don't change the schedule, we're at AK on that day too. But we have lunch at Tusker House a bit later in the day. I'll keep an eye out for you. We tend to hang around EE a lot, since it's DD's favorite attraction/ride.

 

[skier_pete]

I'm convinced that I have the strangest niece ever. My younger one is the complete opposite of your DD. She loves DHS because she loves the scary stuff. Weird kid. She was only 2 our first trip and when the other little kids were crying in VotLM she was cheering for Ursula. She still insists to us that Ursula's not really mean, just misunderstood. .

Not ours, she does NOT like villians AT ALL. I think that's why she hates Fantasmic so much. It doesn't matter that the good guys win in the end, she just doesn't like the villians. She actually doesn't care that much about princesses either. Much more of a fan of the animals (Bambi / Aristocats / 101 Dalmatians) and "Mickey and the Gang" as she calls them...as in "I wish Mickey and the Gang could show me around Disney World." That...and she is a HUGE Stacey fan. (From "Top 7 Things...") I think she would be more in awe to meet Stacey than any of the characters.

Your DD might get a kick out of looking for the key under the mat at the muppets at the entrance to the theater. My nieces did, and had to make a point of showing it to me our last trip.

I showed her that last trip - I don't think she got the joke though. My impression was she thought "Of course there was a key under the mat...that's what the sign says!"

Hey! If I don't change the schedule, we're at AK on that day too. But we have lunch at Tusker House a bit later in the day. I'll keep an eye out for you. We tend to hang around EE a lot, since it's DD's favorite attraction/ride.

What time is your ADR at Tusker House? Don't know if we would overlap there at all. Ooooh, we so love this restaurant. If you love Asian / Indian food there is lots of good stuff there. We have some Indian friends who make home-made Samosas. (Fried crust with potato and veggies inside.) We were amazed how good the Samosas were at Tusker House.

We might see you near EE, but its unlikely. I am the only one of my group that goes on it...however if I catch up with you, I'll throw you my extra FP for it. We use FP a lot in the other parks, but at AK rarely. We hit the Safari first thing, so don't need it there. I really can't stand Kali, and this trip being in winter will probably avoid it, and the rest of the family doesn't like EE or Dinosaur so much. In fact, last trip we won a set of Dream Fastpasses early in the day at AK, and NEVER used any of them. I still have them as a souvenir.

Actually, I always tell people to look for my rust covered Camelbak that I wear all the time at Disney. (You can see the straps from it in the first post in this thread.) I should take a picture of it. I always wore my LGMH on the back of my camelback, but I am thinking of attaching one to the front so that people can tell I'm a DISer both coming and going!

 

[skier_pete]

Here it is, the big 4-0! Middle-age! The end of Innocence!

OK, so I'm overdoing it a bit, but Monday will be my birthday, and I built my entire Itinerary around today, because there is no other park I would want to spend my birthday in except the Magic Kingdom. It's probably got 10 of my 15 favorite rides/shows at WDW including my #1 ride, Splash Mountain. It's also got all the classics from childhood, as when I was a wee one, it was the only park there. If only it still had the original Tiki Birds...but that's for another thread. It's an evening EMH day, and probably a stupid day to do Magic Kingdom, but as I was planning my itinerary, I couldn't bring myself to NOT schedule a MK day on December 14th.

Anyways, of all the parks, it is the one I am least likely to plot out a really solid plan. So much is dependent on FP return times, and ebb and flow of crowds, I leave the plans here pretty flexible, but here is a vague version of what we intend to do.(Well, it's vague to me, some might call it "obsessively detailed".)

9 AM Dumbo Dash! Ride Dumbo
9-10 AM Rest of FL, Grad FP to Peter Pan for later in the day.
9:50 AM Line up for Ariel's grotto
10:15 AM Head West young man! Over to Adventureland & Frontierland for the morning, gathering FP as necessary to avoid lines. Probably ride JC, Slpash, PotC and BTMRR. (HM if there's time.)
12:00 PM Hop on the WDRR to head to the entrance of the park.
12:30 PM Boat to Wilderness Lodge
1:05 PM - Lunch at WCC - DW and I had breakfast here in 1997...would love to stay here some day, but will have to settle for lunch. We are paying for this one OOP in order to use 2 TS credits for the Candlelight Processional. I hope to see some "antics" here, but have heard mixed results based on mid-week lunches, but again, I wanted to pick a restaurant I wanted to go to. Also, we almost need to do a TS lunch today, to make the plans for the evening, so this made the most sense.
2:30 PM After lunch and checking out the decorations, heading to the Grand Floridian...this probably involves either boat / monorail or a bus. (I hear some of the buses go from WL to GF - particularly the AK bus, so I am thinking we'll try this.
About 4 PM return to MK. Probably hit whatever FP we have in our pocket, as well as Mickey's Philharmagic.
6 PM Move to the front of the castle to watch them light it stake spots for
7 PM Spectromagic & 8 PM Wishes! (Probably get a CS dinner and eat it here while waiting for the shows.) Think to myself "What an awesome birthday!"
8 PM to 11 PM - Hit as many rides as possible during EMH. Experience at least one overtired temper tantrum from DD.
Probably actually head back to hotel between 10 and 11 PM, as I don't know how we will be holding up for two long days like this. It's a good thing tomorrow is our (sort-of) day off!

Next up: Day 4 - We don't need no stinkin' theme parks!

 

[If U Had Wings]

Not ours, she does NOT like villians AT ALL. I think that's why she hates Fantasmic so much. It doesn't matter that the good guys win in the end, she just doesn't like the villians. She actually doesn't care that much about princesses either. Much more of a fan of the animals (Bambi / Aristocats / 101 Dalmatians) and "Mickey and the Gang" as she calls them...as in "I wish Mickey and the Gang could show me around Disney World." That...and she is a HUGE Stacey fan. (From "Top 7 Things...") I think she would be more in awe to meet Stacey than any of the characters.

No, my twisted niece loves all the villians. I love her to pieces, but she's just nuts. She also thinks that the Haunted Mansion needs more ghosts. (999 is obviously not nearly enough).

By the end of your trip do you know the whole Stacey spiel by heart? I can still remember the entire song they used to play on the Disney World station when I was a kid, delivered by a woman named Susan. My brother wanted to watch nothing else but the Susan show 24/7. It's still the family joke that we all still remember it completely 30 years later.

OK, so I'm overdoing it a bit, but Monday will be my birthday, and I built my entire Itinerary around today, because there is no other park I would want to spend my birthday in except the Magic Kingdom. It's probably got 10 of my 15 favorite rides/shows at WDW including my #1 ride, Splash Mountain. It's also got all the classics from childhood, as when I was a wee one, it was the only park there. If only it still had the original Tiki Birds...but that's for another thread. It's an evening EMH day, and probably a stupid day to do Magic Kingdom, but as I was planning my itinerary, I couldn't bring myself to NOT schedule a MK day on December 14th.

I don't blame you at all. I was hoping to be at the MK for my birthday next year. Unfortunately Disney did away with the ToT race my friend and I were going to go run so we are going the first week of October now.

1:05 PM - Lunch at WCC - DW and I had breakfast here in 1997...would love to stay here some day, but will have to settle for lunch. We are paying for this one OOP in order to use 2 TS credits for the Candlelight Processional. I hope to see some "antics" here, but have heard mixed results based on mid-week lunches, but again, I wanted to pick a restaurant I wanted to go to. Also, we almost need to do a TS lunch today, to make the plans for the evening, so this made the most sense.

Can't wait to hear about your lunch there. It was a maybe for me for awhile, but once I cancelled by reservation at the WL it got cut.


It looks like it's going to be a wonderful day for your birthday!

 

[skier_pete]

By the end of your trip do you know the whole Stacey spiel by heart? I can still remember the entire song they used to play on the Disney World station when I was a kid, delivered by a woman named Susan. My brother wanted to watch nothing else but the Susan show 24/7. It's still the family joke that we all still remember it completely 30 years later.

Oh, it's sadder than that...I found The "Top 7" on-line. Youtube has a short version of it, but I found the full version somewhere else. DD went through a phase in the spring where she wanted to watch that Youtube "top 7" every day, and when I found the full one, she wanted that instead. So, belive it or not, I downloaded Stacey to my Zune! So, if I am in need of a Disney fix I just plug in my speakers, and watch a little "top 7"

"Look at all the lazy people in the lazy river!"
"Triple Mountain Whammy!"
"Yummy, yummy, yummy....yummy"
"Test Track Baby!"
"Top 7...more like 107!"

I here they dumped the Top7 at WDW, and while Stacey still is the host of the new show, most of the great lines have been cut. Oh well, we can watch it on the Zune instead.

Can't wait to hear about your lunch there. It was a maybe for me for awhile, but once I cancelled by reservation at the WL it got cut.

That's right, you moved up to the Boardwalk! It seems like a nice place. My DStep-sis stays there all the time. (They have more money than us!) She loves it there, but truthfully, the WL would more interest me as a trip destination.

I Can't believe you only have 15 days until your trip...I would be jealous except we only have 23!

 

[If U Had Wings]

Oh, it's sadder than that...I found The "Top 7" on-line. Youtube has a short version of it, but I found the full version somewhere else. DD went through a phase in the spring where she wanted to watch that Youtube "top 7" every day, and when I found the full one, she wanted that instead. So, belive it or not, I downloaded Stacey to my Zune! So, if I am in need of a Disney fix I just plug in my speakers, and watch a little "top 7"

Sadly, I don't think this is strange at all. I don't want to own up to how long I've spent online trying to find a sound clip of some kind of the old Susan show.

That's right, you moved up to the Boardwalk! It seems like a nice place. My DStep-sis stays there all the time. (They have more money than us!) She loves it there, but truthfully, the WL would more interest me as a trip destination.

I Can't believe you only have 15 days until your trip...I would be jealous except we only have 23!

I never in a million years thought I'd ever be staying at the Boardwalk myself. I can thank the lousy economy, a 35% off code and most importantly splitting the cost of the room with my BFF for being able to go. I only wish I was able to stay there the entire week. I'm hoping it doesn't spoil me too much, because next year I'm sure I'll be back at a value or moderate.

I'll be jealous of you as I'm leaving, knowing your just arriving.

 

[skier_pete]

I can't believe with how crowded our Itinerary is that I managed to plan a down day, but after our last trip I learned that a down day really helps you make it through the grind that is a Disney vacation. And with how long our first 3 days are planned to be, I felt it was almost a necessity to put it here, on Tuesday. (It's also my mom and step-dad's 30th anniversary, and I was hoping to celebrate it with them here, but couldn't convince them to come.)

Anyways, our summary of plans are as follows:
7:40 PM DW and I eat at California Grille, followed by watching the 9:30 PM Christmas Wishes.

OK, I admit that is not strictly true...we will probably be doing a few things. For instance, this will be our day to hit DTD. For me and DD, this won't take more than about 2 hours before we are both bored. DD has no patience in stores, and while she has finally gotten to the "I want this" age (which surprisingly took almost 6 years) if she isn't actually getting the things in the stores, she certainly won't want to look around. DW and DMIL will probably want to spend more time there...though neither are real shoppers: DW is a "browse but never buy" type, and DMIL is an "I'll buy anything if it's on sale cheap enough - whether we need it or not" type. However, I would expect them to spend several hours more at DTD than we do.

So, really I picture our day something like this...lounge in bed as long as necessary. (Probably be awake by 8 AM anyways.) A leisurely breakfast followed by eventually going to DTD somewhere around 10 AM. A little shopping, a little lunch, and meeting Santa Claus for DD. Then DD and I head back to the hotel for (hopefully) an afternoon at the pool. DD loves the water and is a complete fish. (She just figured out in August how to swim in the deep end without help.) I know she will be disappointed with how little pool time is set aside for this trip, but hopefully we will have good weather today.

I am sort of hoping that DW and DMIL will be back in time for us to leave around 5:30 PM. I kind of like the idea, since we have APs, of diving into MK for about an hour before our ADR. (MVMCP starts at 7 PM, so our time their would be limited.) Really I'm thinking of doing 1 ride, and then a little more shop browsing. But truthfully, if this doesn't work out, I'm not going to sweat it...they want to spend more time at DTD...that's fine with me. After that, over to the Contemporary. This is another OOP meal. DW offerred to take me to La Nouba for my birthday, but I said that I thought that was something DD would enjoy too...so I suggested we wait for another time for that. Instead I suggested CG...I've always wanted to see those fireworks from there.

(As a sidenote: I have a WDW vacation policy that I try to adhere to: "Do something you've never done before every single day." This has only been put in place since our annual sojourn started in 2006. So far, this trip will total us 34 days at Disney over the last 3 years, and there hasn't been a day that we haven't acheived that. (This trip at Christmas time makes it EASY, though...as we are doing so many new things.)

So, hopefully today will give us a bit of a chance to recharge...to not be on a schedule. Because tomorrow were back and hopping again!

 

[skier_pete]

I'll be jealous of you as I'm leaving, knowing your just arriving.

Oh come on, you have such an awesome trip planned! I think it's great you are taking the time to do all those things you've always wanted to do, but never taken the time! Besides, if you're like me, by the time you are leaving, you're so tired and bedraggled that you feel no jealousy for those fresh faced folks deplaning. We are always ready to go home. It isn't until at least 2 or 3 days later that we want to go back.

I often think it would be fun to do an "adults only" trip, but I can't bring myself to ditch DD. It seems too evil to me to travel all that way and leave your child at home. (I know plenty of people do it...but I don't know if I could.) Maybe if I had more kids, I would be more desperate to get away from the insanity. Most of our friends have more children than us, and my view is I couldv'e handled 2, but anything beyond that is too insane for me, especially multiple little ones. Anyways, we settle for a few nights out on our own. (see Day 4 just posted!)

SkierPete

 

[If U Had Wings]

Anyways, our summary of plans are as follows:
7:40 PM DW and I eat at California Grille, followed by watching the 9:30 PM Christmas Wishes.

I love this! Sounds like a wonderful day. I think down time is so important when your traveling with kids, and especially with extended family. The lack of it is what made things blow up mid-week for my family last year. Everyone needs a break to separate a bit and decompress.

Oh come on, you have such an awesome trip planned! I think it's great you are taking the time to do all those things you've always wanted to do, but never taken the time! Besides, if you're like me, by the time you are leaving, you're so tired and bedraggled that you feel no jealousy for those fresh faced folks deplaning. We are always ready to go home. It isn't until at least 2 or 3 days later that we want to go back.

I often think it would be fun to do an "adults only" trip, but I can't bring myself to ditch DD. It seems too evil to me to travel all that way and leave your child at home. (I know plenty of people do it...but I don't know if I could.) Maybe if I had more kids, I would be more desperate to get away from the insanity. Most of our friends have more children than us, and my view is I couldv'e handled 2, but anything beyond that is too insane for me, especially multiple little ones. Anyways, we settle for a few nights out on our own. (see Day 4 just posted!)

SkierPete

My brother and his wife have had a few "adults only" trips to Disney since the kids, oddly enough usually the week I'm going to be there. Her company will pay for her to attend one large out-of-state conference a year so she usually goes to one in Orlando. My brother goes along with her for the trip. He loves getting to hang out in the parks by himself for the afternoon. They do not, however, tell the kids they are going to Disney. Luckily the kids love spending the week with Grandma and Grandpa. There was no trip scheduled this year, and the kids were actually disappointed they weren't going to get to spend the week with the grandparents.

 

[skier_pete]

I love this! Sounds like a wonderful day. I think down time is so important when your traveling with kids, and especially with extended family. The lack of it is what made things blow up mid-week for my family last year. Everyone needs a break to separate a bit and decompress.

Youare so right. It did take us a couple of trips to learn that, though!

My brother and his wife have had a few "adults only" trips to Disney since the kids, oddly enough usually the week I'm going to be there. Her company will pay for her to attend one large out-of-state conference a year so she usually goes to one in Orlando. My brother goes along with her for the trip. He loves getting to hang out in the parks by himself for the afternoon. They do not, however, tell the kids they are going to Disney. Luckily the kids love spending the week with Grandma and Grandpa. There was no trip scheduled this year, and the kids were actually disappointed they weren't going to get to spend the week with the grandparents.

Actually, I have nothing against adult only trips, or leaving DD with Grandma...in fact I've been thinking we should have one of those again soon...but I just can't picture doing it at WDW.

 

[khertz]

Your birthday plans look awesome! Oh, how I wish I could spend a birthday at the MK, but with my birthday smack in the middle of June, I doubt it'll ever happen.

Having an off day seems like a great idea with kids in tow. Heck, it would probably do us some good since we are planning on 10 park days, but we figure might as well go go go while we still have the energy & no kids! We're the types that will probably need a vacation from vacation once we get back.

 

[skier_pete]

Your birthday plans look awesome! Oh, how I wish I could spend a birthday at the MK, but with my birthday smack in the middle of June, I doubt it'll ever happen.

Having an off day seems like a great idea with kids in tow. Heck, it would probably do us some good since we are planning on 10 park days, but we figure might as well go go go while we still have the energy & no kids! We're the types that will probably need a vacation from vacation once we get back.

Thanks! We did a pseudo-off day last trip, and we didn't have any breakdowns until our 8th day...which was pretty good considering the heat. Both DD and DW were in an awful mood...I tried to roll with it. You never really have an "off" day in Orlando.

 

[skier_pete]

So, on our 5th day, we need an early start - because we are going after the elusive TSMM double-hit...a set of FP and also rope-drop stand-by line. Generally, we are planning this trip that we aren't going to have time to hit many rides / shows more than once, but DW said she wants to do TSMM twice if we can. So, not only do we want to be there at rope drop this morning, but also near the front.

If you read my Day 2 plan, you know we don't spend a lot of time at DHS, and hopefully will hit many of the things we DO want to see that night...but there are a couple of things besides TSMM we need to do during the day.

- DD LOVES the HiStK playground, so we want to give her some time there.
- The actually Playhouse Disney show should be seen at this time. If we can get to TSMM early enough - maybe we can make the 9:30 AM show.
- I DEFINITELY want to do the Indiana Jones stunt show. I am a huge fan of Dr. Jones, and generally love stunt shows in general...so I really enjoy this show every time. But, what I REALLY want to do is volunteer for the show. I tried in 2007, but we got there too late, and last year we had to skip it completely....so this time I am determined to get there early enough, and hopefully use "Pick Me! It's My Birthday!" strategy. I'm targeting hitting the first show (11:30 AM) just because we want to get out of the park as early as possible.

So, if we hit those three things, and assuming I hit ToT and RnRC on Sunday night, hopefully right after the 11:30 AM showing of Indiana Jones we can hit TSMM a second time and leave the park. Our plan is to hit the boat dock, and ride from DHS to Epcot, with possibly a stop at Beach Club to check out the Christmas decor. (Lunch will have to fit in there somewhere.)

Coming in the back-side of Epcot, we will spend the after in World Showcase, trying to check out the various Holiday Storytellers. My primary plan is to move to the East side of world showcase lagoon...starting in Italy, and then move around that side...hitting Italy, Germany, China, Norway and Mexico. In there as well is our dinner at Akerhaus at 6 PM. DD is not HUGE princess fan, but she does like visiting with them. She would prefer eating at the castle, but we did that the last two trips, and 2 TS versus 1 TS credit just makes sense to see them in Norway. We've only eaten here once since the advent of Princesses, but enjoyed our meal. (Though what the heck is Mary Poppins doing mixed in with Princesses? C'mon Disney, you got like 10 princesses to choose from, and you gotta bring in Mary Poppins?)

As a note: I actually got my hands on a schedule of the Holiday Storytellers, and have sort of plotted out the times to try and catch them. (Assuming the times are the same as last year.) But, the key here is I think as long as we are in Epcot by 2 PM, we should have a good hour + in each country, which should be enough time to see the HS.

Anyways, I'm hoping we wrap up the day by 8 PM or so...if DW or DMIL want to stay longer, that will be up to them, but I would take DD back to the room to get to bed.

That's it, again a pretty fully day but hopefully not that busy a day.

 

[Hyonlyf]

Hi! I am following along!

We will be there same dates as you but only park that coincides is AK and we also have same Tusker House lunch time look for our LGMH

I have spent 3 birthdays at WDW and it is so fun!!! Have a great time and enjoy yourself Looking forward to reading more...

 

[skier_pete]

Hi! I am following along!

We will be there same dates as you but only park that coincides is AK and we also have same Tusker House lunch time look for our LGMH

I have spent 3 birthdays at WDW and it is so fun!!! Have a great time and enjoy yourself Looking forward to reading more...

Will do! I always seem to run into DISers at AK...I will look for you at the Buffet. (Well, my bag will probably be at my table, so you may need to scan the seats for my LGMH!)

 

[If U Had Wings]

If you get picked for the Indiana Jones show I definitely think we need pictures. The last trip I took with my BFF back in 2007 we were asked if we would help out with the backlot show. We decieded that we were never going to see any of these people again, so why not? We had a blast pretending to be the captain and crew. Unfortunately since there was only the two of us we have to pictures of our acting debut.

 

[skier_pete]

If you get picked for the Indiana Jones show I definitely think we need pictures. The last trip I took with my BFF back in 2007 we were asked if we would help out with the backlot show. We decieded that we were never going to see any of these people again, so why not? We had a blast pretending to be the captain and crew. Unfortunately since there was only the two of us we have to pictures of our acting debut.

Oh, definitely there will be pictures! Hopefully I won't be picked to be the guy that takes the punch, though! (Oh, wait...he's a ringer, right?)

Don't know if I would want to do the backlot tour one...I hate getting water dumped on me...how dry do those raincoats keep you?

 

[skier_pete]

I always seem to start these updates with a little of my "Disney Philosophy", and this one is no different. We are a big time "rope drop" family. When it comes to Disney, I am ALL about not waiting in lines. Waiting in line is the enemy...no matter how "cool" a queue area is, you are still waiting to do something that you really want to be doing...and time spent waiting is time wasted.

That said, the one park that you can get away with NOT making it to rope drop is EPCOT. (OK, that should be Epcot now, I can't get used to it, though.) Other than the "Big 3" (Soarin', Test Track, and M:S) at the off-peak times pretty much everything here is a walk up attraction. In fact, last year we tested this theory by having a "lazy rope drop" day at EPCOT... we slept in a little bit, and didn't really rush to get out to the bus. As it turned out, we wandered up to the bus stop about 9 AM, about an hour after we normally would, and right around the time of rope drop. The funny thing was, we got to the bus stop, and a bus immediately pulled up for Epcot. We were staying at POFQ, and expected the bus to take the usual tour around POR. Well, the bus instead took the 3 of us...the ONLY passengers, directly to Epcot. It was about 9:10 AM when we got to Epcot...there was NO-ONE in line to get in. We actually hopped the monorail to the TTC - to ride in the front. (A good way to acheive that if you ever want to.)

Anyways...back to our plans. This day I am thinking we will start out the same way. Sleep in a bit and get ready at whatever pace we feel like, planning to get to the park between 9 and 10 AM. We'll start in future world, possibly hitting Nemo again, and also visiting either Soarin' or Test Track, whichever one we missed our first day. I am not focusing as much on future world this trip, because of all the christmas stuff in world showcase. So, we probably will have an early lunch (as we have an early dinner) and head for world showcase.

Once there, I expect we will try and hit the West side...probably head to the back again first, see Japan and America (will we have time for the American Adventure this time? probably not.), then head to France. We have a ADR for the Candlelight Processional (CP) package, having dinner at Chefs De France at
4:15 PM. I HAD to get a book in here, if only because of Remy is still appearing there. DD is a HUGE Ratatouille fan...she went through a phase where she watched that movie a zillion times (except not the part with the shooting and the water). We don't keep our plans secret from her much, but we haven't told her (or DMIL) about Remy. I can't wait to see what she thinks!

So, after dinner, we will swing by Morocco for a few minutes before heading over to see the CP at 6:45 PM. I KNOW this will be DW favorite thing about the trip. She LOVES choirs, and even sings in one with her Ukranian Cultural group. DMIL will probably like it a lot, too. Me, I'll enjoy it, but I don't know if it'll be a showstopper for me...I'll mostly be looking to keep DD from being too bored.

After CP, we will probably head back towards the front of the park, maybe stop in England for a bit. The plan is to have DMIL and DD go back to the hotel by around 8 PM again tonight. Meanwhile, DW and myself get a bit of time to ourselves, walking around world showcase, and then seeing Illuminations from the private viewing area at 9:30 PM. I know DMIL would like the show, but DD doesn't like it (she doesn't like the heat from the fire barge), and 9:30 PM is a tad late to have her staying up. If DMIL wants to see it, she can stay on Wed (day 5) or Fri (day 7) and watch it.

After Illuminations ends...we want to head over to the boardwalk area and check out Jellyrolls. This place sounds like a lot of fun to me, but we have never been because our rare free nights have always revolved around hitting The Adventurer's Club. Obviously, that's not going to happen....sniff...so this is our chance to try something new. I don't expect a super late night - but dueling pianos sounds like a lot of fun to me. The only one I've ever been to was in New Orleans, and that was a blast.

We'll probably take a taxi back from the boardwalk to our hotel. Our one late night. (Another reason to have slept in.) Then it's up early the next morning for our second MK day. (Back on that rope drop, folks!)

Only 3 days left...I'm starting to get sad.

 

[skier_pete]

So, I had to add this story onto my PTR. Last night at dinner we were talking about eating at Crystal Palace. DD just watch "The Many Adventures or Winnie the Pooh" and always likes seeing the Pooh characters at Crystal Palace. We've gone there all 5 trips we've been on as adults - it's sort of a tradition, but at one point it looked like we weren't going to fit it in. Well, she was so disappointed, we decided to get an early AM breakfast ADR our last day.

So, when DD found out she got all excited. So, she asks me, "How many days until we eat with Pooh?" Well, I wasn't sure how to answer this..."Well, we'll be there our last day, and we'll be there 9 days."

Her response: "Nine Days? That's it? I want to go to Disney longer!"

Spoken like a true Disneyholic!

She's been learning about "Then and Now" at school, and one of things they learned was: "Long ago, people used to use typewriters to write letters. ( yeah I know ) Today, people use computers to write letters." Well, when she came home with this DW told her that we have a typewriter in the basement. She wanted to see this archaic thing called a typewriter. She made me pull it out, and plug it in (it's one of the new-fangled electric ones). And she started typing notes. The she wanted to write a letter to Santa. It said, and I quote

"Dear Santa,
I love your coat.
How are the elves?
I can't wait to see you at Disney!"

No list...she'll tell him what she wants when she sees him.