A Trip Full of Firsts - Newbies Take WDW Sept 2011

[meachell13]

I grew up a Disney child but only made it once the World with family when I was young. My children are also Disney children (don't even watch Nick Jr. or any other type of Kid TV network.) I have made a vow that they will be able to experience Disney a lot throughout their lives because I feel it such a Magical Place! I'm not going to lie, sometimes it it the only thing that I can think about! So maybe we aren't just going for the kids?

I guess I should introduce you to our characters going on this trip....

There is me, Michelle, 26. Owner of my own photography business and stay at home mom.

My Husband (who will be turing 30 this June and is slightly stressing about it ) He works in a restoration shop, restoring the classic cars that were around before we were born.

We have two little ones. My son Landen and daughter Melanie who will be 4 and 2 on this first trip to Disney

Couple more of my kiddies cuz they are just so dang cute!

I actually booked this trip back in Oct. 2010 and have went through phases of obsessing about the details of the trip when my work has given me the time. I decided to start this pre-trip report because I need something to help me keep my thoughts together and maybe even get some opinions of others on my crazy planning for our first time there.

We will be going Sept 8-14th, which I hear is an awesome time to book! This happened completely by accident in the beginning before here such good news because I was originally planning on a Disney cruise during the same time period (also a first) but thought I just couldn't get that close to the World on not take my kids to see the Castle. I keep telling them about how we will meet Mickey at the Castle. (This was also pre-trip booking, I have plans with my mother for a Grand gathering in 2014 when my niece gets older and the whole multi-generation family will be staying in a 2 bdr villa somewhere)

Getting off topic...... We will be staying this trip at All-Star Movies because I know the kids will love the theming with the characters there... (Plus my favorite of all time is Fantasia Mickey, definitely getting a pic with him at DHS!!) We are flying down (bought the plane tickets the same time that I booked the hotel package) My husband's first time flying and mine since before 9/11 and I was a teenager at the time so I never had to deal with anything.... It will be interesting doing through that process for the first time together with the kids....

We will also have free dining which I am super excited about! We upgraded from the Qsdp because I definitely want some sit down meals at these yummy Disney restaurants. I also need to have a sit down during the early evening to hopefully recharge a little. I have ADRs all down but I will add those in another post.... First you must know that I absolutely LOVE food. I can be a bit picky about some things, like Sushi ---- Never going to try that. But I will try most things, especially on vacation. I think it is part of the whole experience. I plan to do a Trip Report as well so we will have some food critiques in there!

 

[meachell13]

This is our planned Itinerary at this point:

Day 1: (Sept 8th) Arrive MCO 11:17 am, quick lunch at Movies and straight to see the Castle for the first time. Hoping for huge excitement from the kids when they finally get to see it in person! Dinner Ressies at Ohana then maybe going back to MK for the MSEP <----- this is entirely on the kids being up to it.

Day 2: Breakfast 8:05am Crystal Palace, few hours around MK (Hopefully Tangled Meet and Greet <-----Love that movie!!) Back to the resort for some pool time, then DTD for dinner and shopping!

Day 3: AK, all day. Lunch at Yak and Yeti ADR 1:00PM. After the park I want to check out AKL (possible future place for upcoming, pre-mentioned trip in 2014)

Day 4: DHS, CS lunch? and then Cape Mays for Dinner 5:30pm... Hopping to MK for Wishes <----hoping kids will be up for this.

Day 5: Epcot, Lunch Le Ceiller's noon ADR.... Dinner somewhere in world showcase and Illuminations!

Day 6: SLEEPING IN!!! Pool, MK in the afternoon....dinner 6:30pm ADR Kona...

Day 7: (Sept 14th) ME 7am to make a 10am flight home......

Table of Contents:
ADRs
Things I keep researching online

 

[meachell13]

It is amazing what goes into planning a vacation, let alone a Disney vacation when there is just so much to do!! In my down time, I am constantly online searching for ideas, this and that. In the beginning when they told me that I had to wait to my 180 day mark to make ADRs, I was like what do I need those for! (I did not say this to the CM on the phone for fear of seeming silly ) As I looked around and became more familiar with this board, I realized that 180 mark is celebrated almost as much as the actual start of the vacation day!!

Now, I must tell you that my husband thinks I'm absolutely losing it when it comes to this vacation and I have to try really hard to not talk to him about everything all the time with this trip. (He wouldn't remember much of it anyway until we get right about ready to leave. Not that he doesn't care, I just don't think he gets how totally awesome this trip is going to be!)

So I started looking on the boards about different places to eat and found the MENUs!!!! I think I gained weight just looking through all the different food and choices that there was. I kept going between the page on allears.net and the pdf for the regular dining plan restaurant list and making lists and comparing and..... well you get the picture. I even was going through people dining reports to see the pictures of the food and drool. Again my husband gave me the 'You are crazy" look

Some on my list were hard to take off and some I wanted to try so badly but wouldn't work into the schedule or I didn't think was appropriate to take the kids to. (I'm secretly already planning another time for just me and my husband to come back probably with deluxe dining so that we can get at some of the signatures and such Just don't tell him too soon because he will freak and probably not in the good way ) I am hoping that the Disney magic will take him over and will want to come back again and again and again.... you get the idea.

So this is our line-up of ADRs that we have booked in right now....

Day 1: Ohana 6:35pm
Day 2: Crystal Palace 8:05am <----super excited about being in the park first!!
Day 3: Yak and Yeti 1:00pm
Day 4: Cape May's 5:30pm
Day 5: Le Celliers 12 noon
Day 6: Kona 6:30

Before I made the final list I did have these other choices I was seriously considering:

Coral Reef <--- thought the kids would really like the tanks, but Jason chose Le Celliers

Boma <--- this got taken off the list when I read that a lot of people said the spicey food was sweet/cinnamon spice... I didn't want all my dinner to take like holiday dessert

Chef Mickey's <--- would have liked to go here to see the CR b/c BLT would be a good choice for our grand gathering in 2014 (long way off I know but remember I'm a planner)

California Grill <---- so close to doing this but I just didn't think it would be good with the kids

Teppen Edu <---want to try on a return visit

Several others in World Showcase: Royal Table, Nine Dragons, couple Italy places

Coming up, more crazy things I feel I need to research online....

 

[PixieMama]

Joining in... I love hearing all about 1st trips!

I'm going in September, too... but the 8th is our last day

My family has gone twice (2007 and 2010)... me, DH, and our two DDs. Both previous trips we stayed at ASMovies. I'm hoping our next family trip will be in 2013 (when the Fantasyland expansion is complete). DH has said we're done staying at the Value Resorts... he thinks we'll stay at a Moderate, but I'm going to try my hardest for a Deluxe! WL or AKL are the two at the top of my list, as of now...

My DH is the same way... he doesn't understand all the planning that goes into a WDW vacation! But once he gets there, he's very happy that our trip goes smoothly... which wouldn't be the case if I hadn't done all my planning!

 

[PixieMama]

Forgot to add... your ADRs look great!

We love breakfast at CP, although we've never had one early enough to be in the park before it officially opens! I think that is something we'll have to do on our next trip.

The only other place from your list I've had is Y&Y. I thought it was really good.

And I just noticed your location... I lived in Jackson for about 8 years when I was a kid!

 

[meachell13]

Joining in... I love hearing all about 1st trips!

I'm going in September, too... but the 8th is our last day

My family has gone twice (2007 and 2010)... me, DH, and our two DDs. Both previous trips we stayed at ASMovies. I'm hoping our next family trip will be in 2013 (when the Fantasyland expansion is complete). DH has said we're done staying at the Value Resorts... he thinks we'll stay at a Moderate, but I'm going to try my hardest for a Deluxe! WL or AKL are the two at the top of my list, as of now...

My DH is the same way... he doesn't understand all the planning that goes into a WDW vacation! But once he gets there, he's very happy that our trip goes smoothly... which wouldn't be the case if I hadn't done all my planning!

YEA!! Someone following me! I thought I was just going to have to talk to myself

I am really hoping that after we go that Jason will be more excited about taking trips there. I know that he grew up watching the Disney classics but I know that as a family they never did anything even close to disney...maybe like a Busch Gardens once or something. I know that as adults we will have so much fun there especially because the kids are there and we almost live the experience through them.. does that make sense? I do know that he will appreciate all my craziness in the end.

I don't know if I mentioned above but I have went myself once when I was like 13 with my mom, sister and aunt. My mom finally gave up on waiting on my dad to do a vacation with us so she just booked it. I vaguely remember her getting a touring book (only b/c the travel agent gave it to her when she booked the trip) but we didn't do ADRs, we didn't search the internet like crazy people trying to get the best plan of attack or anything like that so we kinda wandered around aimlessly in June the first year AK opened. (I looked it up and that year 1998 was the record highs in June at the time we were there It was SO HOTTTTT!!!!!) I also did Universal once a few years later so I kinda know how huge and awesome these places are and Jason just doesn't have any clue.

When I went the first time we stayed at All Star Music...way in the back... I think like a mile from the food court.... I did not want to stay in a value again but finally convinced myself that the saved money this time would be good but I booked a preferred room at Movies (requested building #5 Fantasia Mickey which should be refurbed by the time we get there!) I so wanted to stay at AKL. I almost upgraded to POFQ for a few hundred dollars more but didn't. I still think about it sometimes.... If we go again before 2014 I want to stay at least mods if not deluxe.

Have you seen the inside of AKL yet?

 

[meachell13]

This being our first time flying, I really really need to get some luggage, particularly carry-ons... I can borrow a few pieces for checked baggage. It is just so hard to decide on something and really it is just a bag

I did research info on strollers and such and was convinced that I was going to be taking my own stroller (single) for my youngest and my son would be running all over the place to look at everything. But then I started to think that he is going to get really tired mid-way into the trip...so I have one rented now from MagicStroller. Only $75 for the whole trip!

I am still thinking about taking our single down for the airport and for the evening of DTD, instead of using the double. Do you think it would be easier to move around with down there? I would feel weird parking that somewhere there b/c it is open to the public.....

I still am looking at food pictures even though my ressies are booked...even looking at places that I haven't booked I just can't help it! So I am hungry all the time and nothing can satisfy it

Also still looking through ideas on how to plan our days at each park, making sure that I hit what I want to hit and hoping to not stand in a really long line... This includes referring to the park maps online, some of Robos maps and guestimating times of shows at DHS and AK

Are there other things that I should be prepared for that I'm not?

 

[PixieMama]

ASMovies was nice... I think on our first visit there our room was in the middle, but on our second trip, we were all the way in the back, literally the furthest room from the food court/pool/buses!

The room seemed a lot more cramped with the 4 of us in it... didn't seem that way on our 1st trip, but then again, our DDs were younger (and smaller!) then. But the main drawback to the Values that's pushing us out of there is the beds... DH and I can't sleep on a full-sized bed anymore! We need at least a Queen, which I understand all the Moderates are being re-furb'd to! Yay!

If so, we'd probably stay at POR or POFQ. But I'm still going to push for a Deluxe!

I've been inside both AKL and WL... just to the lobby, pool area, and restaurants inside (we've had dinner at Boma and Whispering Canyon Cafe). Oh, and at AKL we've gone outside to view the animals. Both resorts are amazing... I'm actually leaning more towards WL at the moment. One, AKL is so far away from the other parks. And two, DH and I love the National Parks out west, so we love the look and feel of WL.

 

[meachell13]

Yeah I really don't like the walking part of the AllStars, again probably b/c we were traumatized last time we went! I have seen pictures of WL and it does look very nice... I don't like the idea of staying in one of the Cabins (but maybe that is Fort Wilderness??) I want to have more of a hotel feel to the place. I keep thinking to upgrade. I will cost about $250 more to go stay at FQ over movies and I'm trying to determine if it is worth it to stretch the budget more?

If we did upgrade we would have a fridge (not renting one at Movies), slides at the pool so the kids might have a little more fun with that, hot tub (for me), queen beds and larger room, smaller resort....

 

[PixieMama]

Yeah, I think the cabins are Ft. Wilderness. I'd want to stay in the actual WL.

We were thisclose to staying at POR last year. But since the rooms at ASMovies and POR are about the same size (and both have full beds), DH wasn't too keen on spending more money "just to have a fridge and 2 sinks in the room" (his words!) And he also was of the mindset, why pay more money for a room when all we'll do in it is sleep and shower? So we went the "cheap" route, and stayed at ASMovies. Of course, as I said, by the end of our trip DH was done staying at Values!

I know the Moderates will be updated to all rooms having Queens... but I don't think this has been done yet... or has it?

 

[meachell13]

I know that CSR has queens and FQ now has queens and it completely updated with a new decor inside the rooms....they also got rid of the alcove door area?? (the dented in spot where the doors are...kinda curved into the room...they got rid of that giving more room inside the rooms) Not sure about the others though...POR is getting remodeled here shortly or at least some of the rooms to a 'royal suite' theme.... google that and you will see pictures of it.

I do know that we will have some time at the pools on our stay to let the kids be 'free' and cool off sometimes.... It is just so hard with all the choice that you get

 

[sheri18]

just jumped on this...we are going sept 7-14 th

your kids are adorable...what great pics you take...

you were lucky with your ADR's booking so far out...we just booked a few weeks ago....hard getting any...especially in the good places...have fun..

I too am writing my first ever PTR

 

[FosterA]

joining in
Your photos are beautiful and so are your kids!!

I like to hear about first trips because we're getting ready to go on our first trip too!
I can't offer alot of advice being a newbie myself and I may just lurk a little and read your report without commenting but I'll be following along. Can't wait to hear all about it when you get back!

 

[Oliquig]

Joining in too! Looks like you're going to have a fun time.