A Winter Escape to the Enchanted Forest-PTR January'13:Updated 1/19 Last Day Plans

[DaveinFallsChurch]

Welcome and thank you for visiting my Pre-Trip Report for our family's short winter getaway! If you'll like to check out our last adventure to WDW in April 2012, the TR is linked in my signature. I also have an on-going TR from a solo trip to Disneyland Resort in October 2012.

For this upcoming trip, I have our DD's school district to thank. DD started first grade this past September. As I was reviewing her school calendar, I discovered that she had "Student Holidays" scheduled for Monday and Tuesday of January 28th and 29th, giving her a 4-day weekend! I told DW that we should maybe take a family winter vacation somewhere during this long weekend. Honestly, I didn't even bring Disney up as a possibility since I figured DW would like to go somewhere else and we had just been there back in April. But after running through a few options for places to visit, she asked "How about Disney?"

Of course, my answer was "YES!" I may finally be turning DW into a Disney addict like me. Okay, maybe not that far. Soooo, before she could change her mind, I immediately started looking for packages on the Disney website, and within a couple of days, I had our vacation booked!! So, here are the cast of characters.

The cast of characters include myself (38), DW (36), DD (6), DS (3), and DFIL (64). It's the same gang from our last trip. DFIL must have really enjoyed his first visit to WDW in April because when DW asked if he wanted to come again, there wasn't much hesitation.

We will be arriving late in the evening of Friday, January 25th and leaving on the evening of Tuesday, January 29th. We are staying at AoA Finding Nemo Suites. We can't wait to visit the New Fantasyland and try out the new Test Track!

I hope you can follow along! There will be some mini-trip reports and photo reports along the way. And as we get closer to the travel date, I'll share with you our touring and dining plans in great detail!

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

Trip Planning

General Itinerary
Revised General Itinerary and Park Days
Touring Plans for Saturday January 26th - Animal Kingdom Part I
Touring Plans for Saturday January 26th - Animal Kingdom Part II
Touring Plans for Sunday January 27th - Disney Hollywood Studios
Touring Plans for Sunday January 27th - Epcot
Touring Plans for Monday January 28th - Magic Kingdom Part I
Touring Plans for Monday January 28th - Magic Kingdom Part II

Mini TR / Life Updates

Air and Scare Halloween Party - Air and Space Museum (Dulles)
DC Photo Tour
Breakfast with Santa

 

[auprincess]

I am so envious that you are already going back ~ I know you guys are going to have so much fun! I am bummed that our school district took away our fall break ~ I was hoping to be able to go then (of 2013) instead of having to wait until 2014.

My husband and I have been trying to plan our 10 year anniversary trip for months (it was this past June) ~ and we can't agree/decide on anything! I really think it is b/c we have become spoiled with our Disney trips ~ everything can be packaged together and there is so much info here on the DIS. I'm hoping that once we book it, he will be a little more open to scheduling another Disney trip as a family (before 2014)!

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

I am so envious that you are already going back ~ I know you guys are going to have so much fun! I am bummed that our school district took away our fall break ~ I was hoping to be able to go then (of 2013) instead of having to wait until 2014.

My husband and I have been trying to plan our 10 year anniversary trip for months (it was this past June) ~ and we can't agree/decide on anything! I really think it is b/c we have become spoiled with our Disney trips ~ everything can be packaged together and there is so much info here on the DIS. I'm hoping that once we book it, he will be a little more open to scheduling another Disney trip as a family (before 2014)!

Hope you and your family can make it back soon!
Thanks for following!

 

[t_daniels]

I'm in.

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

I'm in.

Welcome and thanks for joining!!

 

[t_daniels]

Welcome and thanks for joining!!

Thank ya.

 

[solana131]

Hi Dave I just saw the link on your DLR report....so I popped over to "reserve my spot". Looking forward to another great report!

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

Hi Dave I just saw the link on your DLR report....so I popped over to "reserve my spot". Looking forward to another great report!

Welcome!! Always happy to have you on board!

 

[Jonesloonybin]

I'm in!

We are also going at the end of Jan. 1/26-1/28 at Universal and 1/28-2/7 at POFQ!

This trip is a surprise for the girls.

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

I'm in!

We are also going at the end of Jan. 1/26-1/28 at Universal and 1/28-2/7 at POFQ!

This trip is a surprise for the girls.

Welcome!!

I'm so looking forward to the time when our kids will be old enough for us to spend some time at Universal. Sounds like a fun trip for your family especially surprising your girls! I couldn't keep a Disney trip a secret

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

After calculating multiple options and dining costs, I figured out that the following would save us the most amount of money. We have booked a MYW Package for AoA through the Stay/Play/Dine Promotion with a 4-day Parkhopper Pass and paying for an upgrade to a full dining dining plan (from the quick dining plan).

Friday January 25th, 2013: Arrive at MCO 9:30pm. Check in to AoA.
Saturday, January 26th: DHS for morning and lunch, Epcot for afternoon and dinner.
Sunday, January 27th: Magic Kingdom
Monday, January 28th: Animal Kingdom
Tuesday, January 29th: Magic Kingdom, Depart MCO at 6:15pm

It's a relatively short stay. Our priorities will be to explore New Fantasyland as much as we can, and to try to go on the new Test Track!

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

This is the second year in a row where we took our kids to the Air and Scare Halloween party at the Air and Space Museum located out in Dulles. Other than the $15 for the parking, admission is free and they do a wonderful job of putting together fun programs and activities geared towards the kids and those of us adults with a geek streak. There are face painting stations, craft stations where you can make parachutes for monsters and aliens and draw what you would see outside the window of your spaceship as you cruise by Mars. A puppet show was performed underneath the space shuttle. There are science stations where you can shoot ghosts with an air gun, or design bottle "rockets" without explosives. There are also lots of meet and greets with characters from Star Wars and Ghostbusters. And of course, lots of trick or treat stations.

Our kids had a great time. All of the volunteers and employees were extremely friendly. And despite the large crowds pouring in throughout the party, it never feels too crowded because the museum is so huge. Here are some pictures!

We came by right before the event was about to start. They were anchoring down Mr. Stay Puft by the entrance.

R2D2 roaming the halls before heading to his meet and greet station.

View from the tower within the museum. Dulles Airport is located right next to the museum and the kids could spend a lot of time watching aircrafts takeoff or land.

Ghostbusters protecting us.

Area 51 Meet and Greet Station

Facepainting stations lining the side of the Blackbird.

Airgun station, shooting those pesky ghosts.

Some Halloween lighting for the Blackbird.

Lord Vader dueling with a young jedi visitor.

Stormtroopers looking for some drioids.

Discovery also lit up with some Halloween colors.

Puppet show underneath the tail end of Discovery.

More Star Wars meet and greet

Boba Fett working the crowd.

One of the trick or treat stations.

Ghostbusters meet and greet.

Another Star Wars photo op.

 

[Chocolab23]

I'm in!
We're going the same week too

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

I'm in!
We're going the same week too

Welcome!! I see that from your sig that you'll be celebrating your bday!

 

[scootsa1000]

For this upcoming trip, I have our DD's school district to thank. DD started first grade this past September. As I was reviewing her school calendar, I discovered that she had "Student Holidays" scheduled for Monday and Tuesday of January 28th and 29th, giving her a 4-day weekend! I told DW that we should maybe take a family winter vacation somewhere during this long weekend. Honestly, I didn't even bring Disney up as a possibility since I figured DW would like to go somewhere else and we had just been there back in April. But after running through a few options for places to visit, she asked "How about Disney?"

I'm in (and this is my very first post)! We are going the same week, for the very same reasons. Gotta love those weird "teacher work days" they throw at us every year.

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

I'm in (and this is my very first post)! We are going the same week, for the very same reasons. Gotta love those weird "teacher work days" they throw at us every year.

Welcome to DIS!! And thanks for joining my PTR!

Usually those random teacher work days are more troublesome for arranging child care, but this time around, I'll take them!

Hope you stay safe through this storm. Our lights started flickering with the more recent gusts which means we'll most likely lose power when the wind peaks.

 

[Marshay]

Welcome and thank you for visiting my Pre-Trip Report for our family's short winter getaway! If you'll like to check out our last adventure to WDW in April 2012, the TR is linked in my signature. I also have an on-going TR from a solo trip to Disneyland Resort in October 2012.

For this upcoming trip, I have our DD's school district to thank. DD started first grade this past September. As I was reviewing her school calendar, I discovered that she had "Student Holidays" scheduled for Monday and Tuesday of January 28th and 29th, giving her a 4-day weekend! I told DW that we should maybe take a family winter vacation somewhere during this long weekend. Honestly, I didn't even bring Disney up as a possibility since I figured DW would like to go somewhere else and we had just been there back in April. But after running through a few options for places to visit, she asked "How about Disney?"

Of course, my answer was "YES!" I may finally be turning DW into a Disney addict like me. Okay, maybe not that far. Soooo, before she could change her mind, I immediately started looking for packages on the Disney website, and within a couple of days, I had our vacation booked!! So, here are the cast of characters.

The cast of characters include myself (38), DW (36), DD (6), DS (3), and DFIL (64). It's the same gang from our last trip. DFIL must have really enjoyed his first visit to WDW in April because when DW asked if he wanted to come again, there wasn't much hesitation.

We will be arriving late in the evening of Friday, January 25th and leaving on the evening of Tuesday, January 29th. We are staying at AoA Finding Nemo Suites. We can't wait to visit the New Fantasyland and try out the new Test Track!

I hope you can follow along! There will be some mini-trip reports and photo reports along the way. And as we get closer to the travel date, I'll share with you our touring and dining plans in great detail!

Ok, I'm in! So glad that you are going to Disney -- even for a short weekend.

And so nice of you all to take your DFIL, too. I like that he didn't even hesitate!

We have not done the Scare and Share yet, so it was neat to see all the photos.

We'll be staying at the AOA Lion King suite before you -- can't wait!!

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

Ok, I'm in! So glad that you are going to Disney -- even for a short weekend.

And so nice of you all to take your DFIL, too. I like that he didn't even hesitate!

We have not done the Scare and Share yet, so it was neat to see all the photos.

We'll be staying at the AOA Lion King suite before you -- can't wait!!

Welcome and thanks for following!! The LK Suites looked great too. It was a tough choice. I'm looking forward to touring the entire AoA resort during our stay.

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

It appears our area avoided the brunt of the storm although there are still power outages and downed trees. Thinking about our neighbors up north who were more severely impacted. Feeling very fortunate this morning.