A Thank-filled PTR - 11/15/18

MaoriWhoLovesDisney

All you gotta do is JUUUUUUUMP!!
Joined
Jul 24, 2017
Messages
114
Kia ora, Everyone!!!

While I'm still writing a TR about my parent's 40th Anniversary trip from July (13 people, one missing crib, and an ER), I am also in the throws of planning another trip for Nov. 15th-20th for my in-laws, as luck would have it, also their pixiedust:40th Anniversarypixiedust:!!

I know it is a little late in the game, but I'm still making slight adjustments to their plans. I'd love for you guys to chime in, and follow along on our trip once it starts!

While none of my family (immediate or otherwise) is on the DIS, I take nothing for granted in the age of the interwebs!! If you know my in-laws, please, please, please don't leak anything! They have no idea all the things we have in store for them, and it's going to be a wonderful time to spoil them!

A quick intro to my in-laws: Kenny and Syble are two of the most down-to-earth people you'd ever meet! Kenny, a semi-retired, former pilot, works as a driver for the state, helping people get to their medical appointments, while volunteering in disaster relief kitchens whenever the need arises. He's been to Florida, North Carolina, and Puerto Rico during each of the previous hurricanes for at least six days. Syble is an almost retired factory worker, who, had she been born in a different time would have been a mechanical or structural engineer. She always makes sure her coworkers and neighbors have their basic needs met, often taking extra food in her lunch to give away. Her generosity knows no bounds, and she is the first person to try and meet someone's need.

Basically, they're the kind of generous people we all aspire to be, and I am often speechless at how they care for everyone and anyone they meet.

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:love:The lovebirds 40 years ago!:love:
It's been over 20 years since they've been, and we wanted to shower them with a bit of magic while they were young enough to still enjoy the parks, and our boys were still at that new and magical phase with, let's be honest, everything.

So, we're pulling out all the stops, but we want to hit all of the iconic things: rides, character meets, and every firework show we can!

PLEASE let me know your thoughts! I'm in the middle of doctoral course work, so I have been planning this in fits and spurts! I know not much can be changed now, but feel free to give me a heads up.
 
Who:

See above for my wife's parents!

Me: David - lover of all things Disney, especially since they bought Marvel!

Favorite Park: Animal Kingdom!
Favorite Ride: Anything involving a mountain!
Favorite Character: Aladdin :genie:, but also Max because of "A Goofy Movie" (TOTALLY bought the Powerline t-shirt shopDisney just released)

Wife: Christa - also a lover of Disney!
Favorite Park: EPCOT - seriously, she has the WORST travel bug. Traveling to EPCOT definitely saves us money...:duck:
Favorite Ride: Kilimanjaro Safaris
Favorite Character: Chip (the critter, not the cup)

Son 1: Jude - three year old power cell

Favorite Park: Hollywood Studios
Favorite Ride: Space Ranger Spin
Favorite Character: McQueen or Buzz

Son 2: Luca - one year old power cell (seriously, we hoped the second would be calmer than the first...God hasn't stopped laughing since L was born)

Favorite Park: Anything with a slide
Favorite Ride: Daddy's shoulders
Favorite Character: Pooh!

EPCOT_IGFRLOWBRIDGEICON_20180703_412294934196.jpg

Where:
SSR 2BR on night one (we added this one waaaaaaay late)
BCV 2BR the rest of the stay

When:
Nov. 15th-20th, 2018

Disney Dining Plan on the books, too!
 
Day 1
November 15th - Animal Kingdom

FP+:

Kilimanjaro Safari
Up! A Great Bird Adventure (They won't have arrived yet, so that's for the kids)
River Journey
(We planned their third FP+ for Mickey and Minnie meet and greet)

Food:
Satu'li Canteen
Flame Tree Barbecue

Magical Surprise: ROL Dessert Party!!!

We've never eaten at Flame Tree, but have heard the portions are big?? We are decent eaters!
 
Day 2
November 16th - Magic Kingdom

FP+:
Tomorrowland Speedway
Buzz Lightyear
Pirates

Food:
Be Our Guest (breakfast)
Chef Mickey (lunch)
Pecos Bill (dinner)

Magical Surprise: MMVMCP!!!

This will be everyone's first MMVMCP, so thoughts are welcome there! I've been following this year's thread. I think we're going to focus on character meets, the parade, and coooooookies!
 

Day 3
November 17th - EPCOT

FP+:

The Seas w/ Nemo
FEA
Spaceship Earth

Food:
Coral Reef (lunch)
Les Halles (dinner-ish)

Magical Surprise: Illuminations Cruise!!!

Since my wife has a love of EPCOT, Illuminations is going away and there's a family history of boating, I thought a surprise cruise would be perfect. That, and my wife asked all their friends to send us anniversary cards so we could give them on the cruise
 
Day 4
November 18th - Magic Kingdom

Magical Surprise: Early Morning Magic!!!

FP+:

Laugh Floor
Barnstormer
Buzz Lightyear (seriously, we do this three or four times each day in MK, cause McQueen doesn't have a ride in WDW yet)

Food:
Columbia Harbor (lunch)
Crystal Palace (dinner)

Christa and I have down EMM every trip, and it is our favorite, mainly because we've had such positive experiences, and the pictures we get in front of Cinderella's Castle have been priceless!!!
 
Day 5
November 19th - Hollywood Studios

FP+:

Little Mermaid
Indiana Jones
Toy Story Mania/Slinky Dog Dash

Food:
Commissary/Woody/Backlot (lunch) - haven't decided!
Minnie's Seasonal Dine (dinner)

Magical Surprise: Fantasmic! Dessert

Fantasmic! Is my favorite spectacular (even if it needs a facelift! #Nostalgic), and they've NEVER SEEN IT, so I thought prime seating with a little snack would be great!
 
Day 6
November 20th - HS/EPCOT

FP+:

Toy Story Mania/Slinky Dog
FEA

Food:
Cape May Cafe (breakfast)
Festival Booths @ Epcot (lunch-ish)

We've never been to the Holiday Festival @ Epcot, and with the way the trip fell, we wanted to do Epcot earlier in the trip, so we thought that would be a good way to spend the last day before the ME picks us up.

Depart to spend the rest of Thanksgiving week with the rest of the in-law fam!
 
A couple of questions I do have, for anyone that might have experience:

How do the dessert parties handle gluten free and low-sugar requests? We have a couple of allergies and a diabetic and would like them the be able to eat something that isn't all sugar substitutes? Anyone have an experience with this???

How is the Illuminations cruise? I've seen a couple of mentions of it, but would love a bigger review!
 












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