A skeptical family of First-Timers take on WDW Nov 15-22** NOV 28 update

[FosterA]

I am enjoying your reports! We are planning a family trip in nov but my DH just surprised me with another trip in sept/Oct trip for just us as a 25th anniv present. Staying at Poly for the first time.
I will pass on details of "can't miss" resort wonders if you like.

How awesome! for sure give me as many Poly tips as possible!

 

[swwake]

I like your Day 2 plans. You might want to add viewing Wishes and EWP from the Poly beach if it's not too late and y'all are not too tired when you get back to the resort after Fantsamic!

As for Fantasmic!, you'll be waiting to get into the gates (maybe). I'd just recommend having some (or starting some) family tradition games for playing in lines, or going through the photos on your camera, writing in journals, reminiscing about your day.

We play "21" (I looked this up and was surprised to find that it's a drinking game! We have always played with the kids on road trips and in lines with no alcohol!). Quick rules:
Goal is NOT to be the person who says 21.
Each person (in a circle, or in turn) counts up either 1 or 2 numbers (his/her choice).
Example:
1st person: 1 (or he could choose to say 1-2)
2nd person: 2-3 (or he could choose to just say 3)
3rd person: 4-5
4th person: 6
back to 1st person: 7-8
and so on. You try to force someone behind you to have to say 21. Then that person is out for the game and the rest of the players start a new round.

(hope all that makes sense)

Also, on our 2008 trip, I carried a journal. Each day, at the end of the day (or at the beginning of the next day), I asked each person to say their favorite and least favorite thing (attraction, weather, etc) of the day. I also asked them to each say the funniest thing that happened (or that someone said) that day. It was a great way to keep up with memories for a trip report and/or scrapbook. These are things you can do while in lines, at bus stops, waiting for the monorail, waiting for a parade or fireworks, etc.

 

[LoriH91]

Well I've just finished your while ptr! I'm so excited for you! Our oldest boy were 18 & 14 on our last trip. Our oldest is kind of a pain about EVERYTHING, but he's already talked about going back! The 14 year old turns into a giant (5 ft 10, 260 lbs) 5 year old at a moments notice, so he had a blast! I planned obsessively, using here & TGM. My DH thought I was a genius by day 2! He suggested us going back in January.

 

[FosterA]

I like your Day 2 plans. You might want to add viewing Wishes and EWP from the Poly beach if it's not too late and y'all are not too tired when you get back to the resort after Fantsamic!

As for Fantasmic!, you'll be waiting to get into the gates (maybe). I'd just recommend having some (or starting some) family tradition games for playing in lines, or going through the photos on your camera, writing in journals, reminiscing about your day.

We play "21" (I looked this up and was surprised to find that it's a drinking game! We have always played with the kids on road trips and in lines with no alcohol!). Quick rules:
Goal is NOT to be the person who says 21.
Each person (in a circle, or in turn) counts up either 1 or 2 numbers (his/her choice).
Example:
1st person: 1 (or he could choose to say 1-2)
2nd person: 2-3 (or he could choose to just say 3)
3rd person: 4-5
4th person: 6
back to 1st person: 7-8
and so on. You try to force someone behind you to have to say 21. Then that person is out for the game and the rest of the players start a new round.

(hope all that makes sense)

Also, on our 2008 trip, I carried a journal. Each day, at the end of the day (or at the beginning of the next day), I asked each person to say their favorite and least favorite thing (attraction, weather, etc) of the day. I also asked them to each say the funniest thing that happened (or that someone said) that day. It was a great way to keep up with memories for a trip report and/or scrapbook. These are things you can do while in lines, at bus stops, waiting for the monorail, waiting for a parade or fireworks, etc.

Thanks for all the tips
You always have good ideas! We will for sure watch Wishes from the beach at least one night, probably even a couple nights. I just can't wait!
I also have another night planned for hitting MK mainly for elec parade so we can always catch Wishes then too.

I like the "21" game idea and maybe we'll play at while drinking around Epcot too!
I also plan on journaling and also I think Allison will journal too since she loves to write!

 

[FosterA]

Well I've just finished your while ptr! I'm so excited for you! Our oldest boy were 18 & 14 on our last trip. Our oldest is kind of a pain about EVERYTHING, but he's already talked about going back! The 14 year old turns into a giant (5 ft 10, 260 lbs) 5 year old at a moments notice, so he had a blast! I planned obsessively, using here & TGM. My DH thought I was a genius by day 2! He suggested us going back in January.

That's so cute. I can just see your 260lb boy acting 5 and running toward and character then accidently tackling them.

I'll have to go check out your report too!
thanks for following along

 

[Oliquig]

Your plans are looking good, when we did Fantasmic, we didn't like the restaurant choices either, so we went 90 minutes early, grabbed turkey legs and drinks and sat until the show started.

 

[FosterA]

Your plans are looking good, when we did Fantasmic, we didn't like the restaurant choices either, so we went 90 minutes early, grabbed turkey legs and drinks and sat until the show started.

You know, I'm sort of thinking we'll do something like that. Probably not turkey legs but something that we can eat in line anyway.

Thanks for sticking around on my report

 

[LoriH91]

The link to my TR is in my signature, but it's only written on my blog. I originally wrote it on TGM's boards, then realized that maybe other people want to see it too! I just copy/pasted it to my blog, so there isn't any chit-chat to wade thru, even tho sometimes that's the most fun!! You'll also have to forgive my grammatical errors. I re-read it the other day, just to reminisce, since I STILL haven't scrapbooked that trip, and found a ton!

Alec, the giant 5 year old, was upset that I hadn't made him a pillowcase for the characters to sign, so he bought a book!! We really didn't spend a lot of time waiting for them, just caught them if we caught them, ya know? This trip, I think I'm going to make hats for each of them to collect autographs.

 

[FosterA]

First of all, thanks to a DIS friend, I figured out how to make a table of contents. Wow, I'm all techy and fancy now! Go check it out on my first page. Hopefully it really does work, seemed to for me anyway.


Here's what I'm thinking for Day 3:

By now we'll have really just toured MK, once on Day 1 during the party and then a few hours on Day 2. I do have plans to get back to MK at least once more on this trip just mainly for Elec. Parade and Wishes. But...it sure will be nice if we can scratch most of the main attractions of MK off our list those first two 1/2 days. I'm really concerned about the Thanksgiving crowds that will be looming right around the corner.

So....time to go somewhere totally newANIMAL KINGDOM!
I loved AK when I went on my solo trip in Feb and can't wait to go back here. I know the fam is going to LOVE it too!

The plan will be to do our first Rope Drop here. Yikes. Now, I won't freak out if we don't get there right at Rope Drop exactly because I really have plans to stay here all day anyway so it's not really necessary since I'm sure we'll get it all done. But...if I tell the family we are going to go to rope drop at 9:00, then we will really arrive at 10:00 and that's ok too!

I just must get on the Safari right away! My most favorite thing in all of Disney I think. We'll do all the biggees plus watch all the shows, even the bird one I hope! Like I said, we really have lots of time this day. The only ride I'm not interested in is Kali River. That one seems like a big pain since you get so wet. The kids might want to do it but I'll make them wait for it the very last so we can just go back to resort and change. I also don't really want to do Dinosaur again. I mean I do in a way because I don't really remember much about the theming and stuff because I was so busy trying to not lose my head and my bones were rattling like crazy the one time I rode it. That thing is not very comfortable! I don't even remember anything "scary" happening like any dinosaurs jumping out because my brain was so rattled. I may try it again and really focus on the ride and dinosaurs instead of the pain and agony.

I did make an ADR for Yak and Yeti at noonish on this day also. Since we are paying for food OOP, we are not trying to get the most bang for the buck and take "full advantage" of the credits so we may just share a couple appetizers or something. The reason why is that we have plans to go to the Spirit of Aloha Luau back at the Poly tonight at 8:00 so we need to be good and hungry. I just thought a table service at noon this day at AK would be nice simply because we actually do have the time this day plus I bet it's pretty cool inside this place (as in good A/C but also a neat atmosphere!)
I snatched this photo from somewhere, it just looks like a cool place!

So hopefully we can get 'er all done this one full day at AK since it's the only AK time planned on this trip. I'm sure we can knock it all out even with our Yak lunch. Taking older kids makes things much smoother that's for sure. I bet if we went when they were little, it would take twice as long to get anything accomplished!

After a full day at AK, we'll head back to the Poly and regroup and get ready to go to the Luau. Now, right now I reserved the 8 pm spot simply because I wanted to make sure we didn't rush AK but I really hope that if for some reason we get done at AK early or something and have our little rest time at the room, that maybe we can switch to the earlier Luau that night (6 ish or whatever). Just not sure. I'd prefer the earlier one because I do plan on doing rope drop at Studios for the next day and the earlier to the room and bed after the Luau the better. But...like I said, I don't want to rush the AK day so I chose the 8 instead. Anybody ever have any experience with calling the Luau the day of and switching your times? I'll probably know half way through our AK day whether we can make the 6 showing or not and can call from my cell. We'll just have to play this by ear.

And I know...I read the reviews. Luau doesn't get that many great reviews but my poor clueless husband who doesn't want to talk Disney or read anything about the parks and dining choices, decided he WILL go to this Luau. I'm not even sure how he came to that decision since he's never looked at any dining choices I'm guessing at some point in the early planning stages, I mentioned there was a Luau at the Poly and he said "be sure to book that". Once again, the poor guy has only requested 2 things on this entire trip and that was to stay at the Poly and eat at the Luau. I've chosen the other 500 things so I need to honor his requests. Oh well, I think it will be fun no matter what the reviews are Besides, check out the bods on these guys!

So, that's Day 3. An all Ak day with a counter service breakfast either at the Poly or some snack cart at Ak, a sit down lunch at yak, and then the Luau!

 

[AprilRenee]

The link to my TR is in my signature, but it's only written on my blog. I originally wrote it on TGM's boards, then realized that maybe other people want to see it too! I just copy/pasted it to my blog, so there isn't any chit-chat to wade thru, even tho sometimes that's the most fun!! You'll also have to forgive my grammatical errors. I re-read it the other day, just to reminisce, since I STILL haven't scrapbooked that trip, and found a ton!

Alec, the giant 5 year old, was upset that I hadn't made him a pillowcase for the characters to sign, so he bought a book!! We really didn't spend a lot of time waiting for them, just caught them if we caught them, ya know? This trip, I think I'm going to make hats for each of them to collect autographs.

Sorry to go OT here but I've been wanting to copy and paste my TR over to something where I could keep it....however, I'm concerned about the photos transferring. Did blogspot work with the links the same way that Disboard works? Does that make sense? Like were you able to use the same photobucket (or other photo storage) links or did you have to load each photo into blogspot individually?

ETA: Day 3 looks good! You guys are gonna have so much fun!!

 

[swwake]

Love your Day 3 plans. I bet you will finish early at AK, but if you do, and can't get the earlier Luau, consider a stop off at DTD. Maybe Goofy's Candy Co. (unless you have this planned for later in your trip). Or consider going over to look at AKL - it's really worth seeing. It's just that you are so far away from the Poly when you are at AK, it's a good chance to break up the trip back with a side trip.

Also, at AK, don't miss the Nemo and Lion King shows!

And, yes, those dancers will surely make the Luau well worth it to attend!

 

[heathsf]

Whew! I just caught up on your PTR! I didn't realize that your one quickie trip was a "run-through" for your family trip! How fun is that - you got a practice run! I loved reading about your trip. You really did cram a lot into a little bit of time. Your family has no idea what they're in for! They're going to have a blast and will finally appreciate all the planning you did!

You know I've been enduring the eye-rolling and the "oh my gosh you're so crazy" looks from my BF so I'm right there with ya... but they WILL be converted once they experience WDW. You'll see...they'll start getting more excited as the trip gets closer. I overheard my BF yesterday telling his aunt that I had a "great trip planned." A few months ago I could never have believed that I would hear those words coming out of his mouth!

Your plans so far sound great. I've never done it but MVMCP looks amazing and what a way to start your trip! I think it's a good idea that you're doing as much MK as you can towards the beginning of your trip before the Thanksgiving crowds start pouring in. I'm looking forward to reading more about your plans!

 

[amandaluvsgoofy]

I'm finally caught up!!

Your plans sound great! I wonder if Kali will even be open that time of year

I did the Luau over 15 years ago and I really enjoyed it! I wonder what it's like (so you'll have to let us know, haha!).

I'm dying to see your pics from MVMCP! I really hope to see it someday!

Can't wait to read more!

 

[LoriH91]

I love your AK plans!! We did rd there & managed to get most everything done. The only show we saw was FOTLK, sooooo worth it!! We skipped ITTBAB, because we had little ones that would get freaked out. We also ate at Yak & Yeti & loved it! It was seriously good food & so nice inside! I think we even left the park about 3pm? That was after at least 1 safari & 4+ trips on EE!

 

[LoriH91]

I use Picasa for my pics, & I'm pretty sure I just copy/pasted everything over to blogspot from my TGM tr. I remember that it was super easy!! Plus, nobody in my family cares about the commentary from other Disney fanatics, they just wanted to see the trip.
I think I tried to use photobucket at one point & just got frustrated. I already had a Picasa account set up with a Photoshop class I was taking, plus I have a droid, which can upload straight there. It was just easier to me!

Sorry to go OT here but I've been wanting to copy and paste my TR over to something where I could keep it....however, I'm concerned about the photos transferring. Did blogspot work with the links the same way that Disboard works? Does that make sense? Like were you able to use the same photobucket (or other photo storage) links or did you have to load each photo into blogspot individually?

ETA: Day 3 looks good! You guys are gonna have so much fun!![/QUOTE]

 

[FosterA]

The link to my TR is in my signature, but it's only written on my blog. I originally wrote it on TGM's boards, then realized that maybe other people want to see it too! I just copy/pasted it to my blog, so there isn't any chit-chat to wade thru, even tho sometimes that's the most fun!! You'll also have to forgive my grammatical errors. I re-read it the other day, just to reminisce, since I STILL haven't scrapbooked that trip, and found a ton!

Alec, the giant 5 year old, was upset that I hadn't made him a pillowcase for the characters to sign, so he bought a book!! We really didn't spend a lot of time waiting for them, just caught them if we caught them, ya know? This trip, I think I'm going to make hats for each of them to collect autographs.

That's cool that you pasted it onto a blog. I really like that idea!
Since you scrapbook, do you paper or digital scrapbook? I used to do paper and then I discovered Polaroid My Memories Suite scrapbooking and I am waaaay more addicted to scrapbooking than ever before. I have the 12x12 pages printed at Costco and then slide them right into my traditional scrapbooks along with the older pages that were not digital. So fun!

anyhoo...thanks for following along!

 

[FosterA]

Love your Day 3 plans. I bet you will finish early at AK, but if you do, and can't get the earlier Luau, consider a stop off at DTD. Maybe Goofy's Candy Co. (unless you have this planned for later in your trip). Or consider going over to look at AKL - it's really worth seeing. It's just that you are so far away from the Poly when you are at AK, it's a good chance to break up the trip back with a side trip.

Also, at AK, don't miss the Nemo and Lion King shows!

And, yes, those dancers will surely make the Luau well worth it to attend!

Once again, you always have good ideas I do have DTD planned for another day but I really like the idea of visiting AKL. I had never even thought about that. I'd really like to visit as many resorts as possible in hopes to spur David on to maybe wanting to come back and just "have to stay at one of them"! I saw the Lion King show when I went in Feb but not Nemo and that is a definite MUST DO!

Whew! I just caught up on your PTR! I didn't realize that your one quickie trip was a "run-through" for your family trip! How fun is that - you got a practice run! I loved reading about your trip. You really did cram a lot into a little bit of time. Your family has no idea what they're in for! They're going to have a blast and will finally appreciate all the planning you did!

You know I've been enduring the eye-rolling and the "oh my gosh you're so crazy" looks from my BF so I'm right there with ya... but they WILL be converted once they experience WDW. You'll see...they'll start getting more excited as the trip gets closer. I overheard my BF yesterday telling his aunt that I had a "great trip planned." A few months ago I could never have believed that I would hear those words coming out of his mouth!

Your plans so far sound great. I've never done it but MVMCP looks amazing and what a way to start your trip! I think it's a good idea that you're doing as much MK as you can towards the beginning of your trip before the Thanksgiving crowds start pouring in. I'm looking forward to reading more about your plans!

Thanks for continuing to follow along! Yep, I was lucky enough to sneak in that little planning trip back in Feb which was really the best thing ever and beat just reading the guide books! I learned so much on those 2 days. Plus, I was able to get a bounceback for Nov. so that made it even more worth it!!

Hey, that's a good sign that your BF is perking up a little and showing a glimmer of excitement I think I may have seen a slight change in David the other day too when I was talking Disney, he actually asked me a couple questions about World Showcase and I was shocked. He never even participates in Disney talk, just nods his head and says "whatever you want to do" about everything but that night he actually seemed a little excited when I was telling him about the countries that are there!

I'm finally caught up!!

Your plans sound great! I wonder if Kali will even be open that time of year

I did the Luau over 15 years ago and I really enjoyed it! I wonder what it's like (so you'll have to let us know, haha!).

I'm dying to see your pics from MVMCP! I really hope to see it someday!

Can't wait to read more!

I am also totally thrilled about MVMCP. Gotta warn you though, photography isn't my strong point so don't get too excited to see MVMCP photos since it will be dark and that gives me even more challenges
Thanks for following along!

I love your AK plans!! We did rd there & managed to get most everything done. The only show we saw was FOTLK, sooooo worth it!! We skipped ITTBAB, because we had little ones that would get freaked out. We also ate at Yak & Yeti & loved it! It was seriously good food & so nice inside! I think we even left the park about 3pm? That was after at least 1 safari & 4+ trips on EE!

I saw the Lion King show when I went back on my solo trip in FEb and LOVED it!! I cannot wait to show the family!
good to hear that you loved yak and Yeti. You don't hear a lot about that place on the boards for some reason so I'm happy that you enjoyed the food and atmosphere!
Thanks for following along!

 

[FosterA]

Now here's the plan for Day 4:

We'll have done MK on day 1 and 2, spent all day at AK on day 3, and the only time we would have been to Studios at this point would have been day 2 when we plan on slipping over there for Fantasmic only. So...Day 4 will be an ALL Hollywood Studios Day!

Like on AK day, I'd like to get here at Rope drop or as early as possible because of that pesky Toy Story ride! I imagine we'll just grab something at Cook's before heading over or maybe something quick once we're there. I hear alot about Starring Rolls. Do they have breakfast sandwiches and such?

I know alot of people think of Studios and AK as not necessarily "full day" parks and we may find that to be the case but when I say "all day", I just mean until we feel that we are done, whatever time that is. We have nothing else we have to fit in this day except relax at the resort when we are done. I know alot of Dis people recommend having a mid-day break but with the exception of one or two of our days, we wont. The thing is that it will be November so not hot and gross and also the parks close earlier but mainly because the kids are old enough to hang all day. Our routine instead is more to complete a park and then when we feel "satisfied" that we did what we wanted, we'll just head back to the Poly for swimming and bed early or whatever. This will probably be one of those days. I imagine if we get there close to rope drop, we'll be done around 3 or so. We'll head back to the Poly and lounge around. Also....I am going to DO LAUNDRY this night I know, I know, it's supposed to be a vacation right? But...I don't want to pack a bunch so if I plan in laundry than we don't have to bring so dang much. Plus, since I don't expect Studios to be THAT long of a day, the laundry will fit in perfect this night. Can I bring my big ol' Lapu Lapu drink in the laundry room

anyway...back on track here. Since we haven't done ANYTHING here before, I wont know until we try it, if it's worth it to do. When I came back in Feb, I literally just did Toy Story, TOT, and Aerosmith Coaster and then left. I'm really looking forward to some of the shows and I think Ian will like the car crashing thing and the Indiana Jones show. Allison wants to see Little Mermaid at some point and I think she's here, right?

I am most looking forward to TOT and Aersosmith again. These rides blew my mind when I did them back in Feb. Not the "rides" themselves (could have lived without that elevator dropping business!) but the theming was just crazy cool! I mean when I went on my solo trip, I was already mightily impressed by Disney just after seeing the resort and downtown area, but it was when I went on TOT and Rock n roller coaster that I was realized just how amazing and over-the top this Disney place was! anyhoo....I just can't wait to see the family's reactions to these 2 rides. Toy Story was just "ok" I thought. Fun for sure and impressive technology but not my favorite of the "Big Three".

We will also do Sci-Fi for lunch around 1:00. Seems like a cool place! We're really more about the atmosphere versus the food on this trip. I mean, we live in TX, we can get good food anytime! I tried to pick ADRs for some "fun" type places. Hopefully Sci Fi will be a good choice.

(We'll just do a counter service breakfast and dinner this day at Poly or here at the park)

Sounds like a good day, right?

 

[lilpixiebabe101]

Your day sounds great! That's how we've always done Disney. "Do what we want to do in the park then head to a water park or back to the resort or downtown!"

I think you'll find with the older kids that there's a good bit to do in DHS.. well I will always think of it as MGM.... There isn't much there for younger ones like my two year old. My mom and Joseph will probably stay and do more park the day we go, and I'll bring her back to the room for a nap.

We're also trying SciFi because we never have!

 

[heathsf]

Sounds like a great day! I loooooooooove ToT! The theming is really out of this world (and I do love the elevator drops too). Next time you're there, look at the directory next to the out-of-service elevators (where the preshow is). There are letters missing from the board and it used to be that if you looked at the bottom, you could find the missing letters....

Unfortunately, I don't think it's there anymore

No matter how many times I ride, I can never get over how cool the special effects are. I get giddy just thinking about it!

And I agree with you that ToT and RnRc are way better than TSMM! When I go with BF, we'll be running for a FP at RD with the masses but as soon as we get it we're heading straight for ToT and RnRc to ride as many times as we can while everyone else is at TSMM!