All our ghosts have been dying to meet you Pre-Trip: Update & costume tweaks 9/20

[OrangeJuice]

Ok I know this is going a while back but... DON'T DO Stitch's escape!! I am a huge fan of the movie and regardless I would not go back on it. I wish it was still Alien!

Otherwise, Love reading along with your plans so far. Flight's of Wonder is a great show. We catch it every time and I always end up taking way too many pictures.

 

[abbybeth]

Subscribing!! We're also going in September!

I love all of your homemade costumes-- you're incredibly talented!

Those BATB tanks are gorgeous! Who would have thought, Hot Topic?!

Your countdown is whittling down now too! Fall is my favorite time of year in general, and it really seems just perfect down at WDW.

I really need to start working on our MNSSHP costumes .... I need more hours in each day!

Seriously, Hot Topic! I never would have guessed. They have a whole bunch of very cute Disney wear and I found that their sizing ran more along the lines of normal sizing for grown ups instead of tiny junior sizing. Very pleasantly surprised.

So how are the other 998?

Do you have room for one more?

Yes, I'm along for the ride - and thanks to your excitement, and the excitement of your new-found friends, I'm getting excited! Our airfares are booked (same flights!), ADRs made (waiting on Cali Grill ), scooter reserved through Apple Scooters, and costumes ready.

There's ALWAYS room for one more!

A pre-trippie does always seem to keep/foster excitment, especially in the middle part of the countdown. We've got a really nice crew over here

Ok I know this is going a while back but... DON'T DO Stitch's escape!! I am a huge fan of the movie and regardless I would not go back on it. I wish it was still Alien!

Otherwise, Love reading along with your plans so far. Flight's of Wonder is a great show. We catch it every time and I always end up taking way too many pictures.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure Stitch's Great Escape is a no-go for me. I think Stitch is adorbs, but umm .... I keep coming back to how horrid the reviews of the chili dog burp are.

 

[abbybeth]

Oh goodness, where has the time gone?! The days just seem to fly by (or at least the weekends do )

Day 3: Monday

No ADRs today, keeping this one pretty open. But for really good reason!

Gather 'round, boys and girls, it's time for a story.

Back in the year 2007, my parents decided to surprise me with a fabulous, once-in-a-lifetime trip to Walt Disney World. You see, we'd never been. In fact, we'd really never been on a family vacation that wasn't centered around a dance competition or basketball tournament. We approached the planning with a level of gusto and ferocity that would've made Mickey proud. My dad and I, being the obsessive planners and researchers we are, found a magical corner of the World Wide Web where people talked about the details of their Disney trips ad nauseum. Tips! Tricks! Advice! Special things to plan! There was so much to learn!

Yes, that is when we found the DIS.

I started my first pre-trippie, we made friends, we planned meets.



This day of our trip is slated to be Reunion Day!! We will join our friends, along with some new ones, and check in to the fabulous Hollywood Tower Hotel. I hear that they're in need of some renovations and the elevator may be out of order, so hopefully they'll put our room block on one of the lower floors so we're not all climbing tons of stairs.

There's also some talk of dining at Via Napoli or perhaps Striketown. Not really sure. It kills a tiny piece of my soul to not have this planned out, but I'm trying to just 'go with the flow'


I will be back soon with some real life updates - we've been BUSY! as well as getting back on the updating horse. We've got 6 more day of plans to discuss yet. 64 days to go!

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

Sounds like a fun day planned! I'll be doing a couple of DIS meets in October as well. And I can't think of a better place for a DISmeet than the best hotel on this side of the Mississippi

 

[abbybeth]

Sounds like a fun day planned! I'll be doing a couple of DIS meets in October as well. And I can't think of a better place for a DISmeet than the best hotel on this side of the Mississippi

We were all initially a bit skeptical of meeting 'strangers from the internet' but had a fantastic time getting to know everyone in the time leading up to the meet and then getting to see everyone face-to-face. DIS meets are definitely a good thing in my book!

 

[happybelle]

Still reading along, just haven't been commenting.

 

[Abby's Dad]

We were all initially a bit skeptical of meeting 'strangers from the internet' but had a fantastic time getting to know everyone in the time leading up to the meet and then getting to see everyone face-to-face. DIS meets are definitely a good thing in my book!

Indeed it's true - DIS meets are great, and even close to meets. In planning part of a different meet that has already been referenced, the fireworks cruise with our Scottish friends (friends nothing - we consider them family), I posted for a Scottish family on the UK DIS board. There were many wonderful responses, as well as some from Brits who couldn't read (what's wrong with us Brits - hmmmmm, Aye, where do I start? LOL Referendum, September 2013. Scotland forever, alba go bragh!). Some of those who couldn't be at WDW at the designated time entered into an ongoing correspondence with me, and some are friends to this day, still visiting via the internet. I received St. Andrew's cross (the Saltire) jibbets for my Crocs from one of them, and still wear them with pride to this day.

And I believe that we are finishing the day with drinks at The Top of the World and watching Wishes from the top of BLT, right Ab?

 

[happybelle]

And I believe that we are finishing the day with drinks at The Top of the World and watching Wishes from the top of BLT, right Ab?

Oh wow, that sounds amazing.

 

[abbybeth]

Oh wow, that sounds amazing.

Hi happybelle! thanks for commenting! I promise the pick the pace back up around here ... real life has gotten a bit hectic as of late!

looks like we're both fans of the same Princess you have good taste!

and YES, we will be finishing off the day at the top of the world lounge with my parents at Bay Lake Towers - fireworks, yummy drinks and apparently they serve pretzel bread with delicious dips! Sounds like perfection!

 

[abbybeth]

Tuesday October 1, 2013

As has been mentioned, my parents will be vacationing at WDW the same week that we are. They are very proud DVC owners at Bay Lake Tower and also love WDW in the Fall. (I mean, let's be honest, who DOESN'T?! Right?)

They tour the parks at more of a relaxed pace than I do, but we still wanted to figure out a couple meet-ups with them.

After finishing out the prior night watching Wishes with them from the Top of the World Lounge at BLT, we will be headed back to the Contemporary bright and early to meet them for breakfast.

7am ressies at Chef Mickey's!


Can I tell you a secret?







This will be my third trip and I STILL haven't met the Boss. Or his Main Lady. Or his pup. Or his goofy best friend. Or his quacked up buddy.






Please don't send me to Disney Time-Out!



Chef Mickey's was planned to rectify this grave Disney sin. I will FINALLY get to meet the MICE.

Plus, I love a good breakfast buffet. And Ryan can eat a lot of food, so he'll get a good meal to start the day as well. I'm pretty excited about this meal and already have my outfit planned. I found a great tank at the Disney outlet with Minnie bows all over it, found red shorts to go with it and have a ring that looks like Minnie's bow. I hope she'll LOVE it! (yes, I dress to impress a mouse)

MK opens at 9, so I'm hoping to make it to a rope drop for the first time to see the opening show. We'll pick off some things in MK while the crowds are low and eventually hop over to Hollywood Studios.



We have a 3:30pm ressie at Hollywood Brown Derby for the Fanstasmic package. I love HBD and having reserved Fantasmic seats, so it's a win all around. My parents have a package ressie for the same time, but it's separate from ours. If they're slow, maybe we can sit together, but if not, that's ok too.

Already looking forward to ordering a Sidecar (my dad introduced me to that drink for the first time there - and I don't think I've ever ordered it anywhere other than there) and the grapefruit cake.



Then we'll have some time to kill before Fantasmic at 8pm. Star Tours and Muppetvision will be necessary. If we can get on Toy Story Mania without an atrocious wait, then we will. Otherwise it'll have to be saved for another day. I'd also like to do the Animation Academy - again, if not this afternoon, then at some point this trip.

Then we'll head into the Theatre



and slowly exit down Sunset Boulevard and enjoy the lights and atmosphere of glamorous Old Hollywood.

I know that DHS has a lot of haters and people who say it's a half day park at best, but I love it. DHS is definitely on the agenda for parts of at least 2 days, maybe 3. The theming is perfection. It has some of the best rides. It has variety - both slow and fast paced rides, Broadway style shows, shows with pyrotechnics, sit down movies and shoes, all sorts of corners and details to explore....

And yes, I LOVE THE HAT.

(off soapbox)

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

Great plans! What time is your Chef Mickey's ADR? We had a 7:40am ADR at CM during our last trip and didn't make it to MK in time for the opening ceremony. It really all depends on where you get seated and how early you are in the character rotation for your seated section. The kids still had a blast getting to meet the Fab Five all in one sitting!

 

[abbybeth]

Great plans! What time is your Chef Mickey's ADR? We had a 7:40am ADR at CM during our last trip and didn't make it to MK in time for the opening ceremony. It really all depends on where you get seated and how early you are in the character rotation for your seated section. The kids still had a blast getting to meet the Fab Five all in one sitting!

We have the first seating at 7am, but I won't be bummed if we don't make rope drop. Since it's a meal I haven't done, I don't really know quite how long to plan for it to take. If we make rope drop, then great. If we don't make rope drop, that's ok too!

I'm excited to nab all 5 at once I'll have to see if I can convince Ryan to wear his Mickey shirt that day. We'll be disgustingly matchy-matchy. One step up from the elderly couple in matching velour sweatsuits and fanny packs. AIM HIGH!

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

We have the first seating at 7am, but I won't be bummed if we don't make rope drop. Since it's a meal I haven't done, I don't really know quite how long to plan for it to take. If we make rope drop, then great. If we don't make rope drop, that's ok too!

I'm excited to nab all 5 at once I'll have to see if I can convince Ryan to wear his Mickey shirt that day. We'll be disgustingly matchy-matchy. One step up from the elderly couple in matching velour sweatsuits and fanny packs. AIM HIGH!

You should be more than okay in making the rope drop if you have an ADR at 7am. I believe that's when they open so you'll be one of the first to be seated and won't take that long for the characters to come by your table. It shouldn't take you more than an hour.

Can't wait to see the pictures with you and Ryan in your matching outfits!

 

[klacey1]

Your Minnie-inspired outfit sounds so cute! I love when people do character-inspired outfits in the parks.

 

[abbybeth]

Your Minnie-inspired outfit sounds so cute! I love when people do character-inspired outfits in the parks.

Thanks! I'm also planning a full out DisneyBound-style outfit for the night we have dinner ressies at Be Our Guest. I found a great yellow lace dress at Target for my Belle-inspired get up. #nerd

I don't wear my Disney stuff out in the 'real world' all that much, but I love sporting it in the parks!

I'll have to do an outfit post when it gets closer to packing time!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Your plans sound great!

 

[abbybeth]

Wednesday October 2, 2013

As of right now this will be a single park day for us - EPCOT!


The Bears, circa 2007


I planned more Epcot time on this trip for a few reasons:

1. After two trips, I still haven't managed to visit all of the pavilions. By default this means that I am missing important international shopping opportunities and yummy international snacks and beverages. Unacceptable.

2. Food & Wine fest. Also helps satify reason 1.

3. I an anticipating that Epcot may be Ryan's favorite of the parks and as part of the overall Disney brainwashing plan, I intend to cater to that.


Spaceship Earth + Monorail Blue = PRETTY!

Epcot opens at 9 this day, so we'll grab breakfast at the resort, some coffee to make me conscious and conversant and head out!

With this basically being a full Epcot day, I'd like to do everything in Future World. Test Track, Soarin', Mission Space, Ellen's Universe of Energy (I kinda like it!), Club Cool (I'm sure Ryan needs to try Beverly!) Mouse Gears, Innoventions, Living with the Land, Spaceship Earth - THE WORKS!


I'll have to stop by to see my favorite seagulls at Nemo too of course!


Bear parents trying Beverly circa 2007 .... I promise photographic evidence of Ryan!

By the time we accomplish all of that, we will probably be starving and will head over to World Showcase. We have a 1pm ADR at a restaurant Ryan selected: Restaurant Marrakesh. This will be a new one to me, but my parents had rave reviews after their last trip and Ryan loves adventurous cuisine.


Then we will walk off our delicious lunch wandering WS, maybe doing a bit more snacking, definitely doing a bit more drinking if we're lucky we'll run into some friends! Maybe even my boyfriend, Dale. I hope he won't be jealous that I'm bringing Ryan along!



A new friend I'm dying to meet Marie!! Hopefully in France (though it seems like she also greets at MK now - one way or the other, I need to find my girl)

and then we will head over to Downtown Disney.

Ryan will get a big suprise - it'll be a delayed birthday present that he hopefully won't know about until we get there. Post surprise, we have an 8:30 ressie at the fabulous Raglan Road. I'd love to be seated in the main room where the band and dancers are, but we'll see what we get. After dinner, we'll wander DTD a bit and then, if the boats are still running, boat on back to the resort.

58 days (and 21 hours) until departure!!!

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

Love your picture with Dale! I can never remember which one has the red nose.

With a 1pm ADR, it'll probably be tight fit to do everything in FutureWorld but if you shave off some time perusing in Mouse Gear and Club Cool and pick out a couple of must dos in Innoventions and focus on those, you should be good! If we let our kids completely loose exploring both Innoventions halls, we could easily spend half a day in there.

 

[abbybeth]

Love your picture with Dale! I can never remember which one has the red nose.

With a 1pm ADR, it'll probably be tight fit to do everything in FutureWorld but if you shave off some time perusing in Mouse Gear and Club Cool and pick out a couple of must dos in Innoventions and focus on those, you should be good! If we let our kids completely loose exploring both Innoventions halls, we could easily spend half a day in there.

That is one of my all time favorite Disney pictures As far as remembering who is who, the way I was told to remember it: Chip has a dark nose that looks like a Chocolate CHIP and Dale is the other one

The Future World plan IS ambitious, but it's not our only Epcot day, so truthfully if we don't fit all of it in, that's completely OK. And I tend to be a park commando which is one of the reasons my parents don't like to tour parks with me!

 

[happybelle]

Commando touring aside , it looks like fun! I also love the Dale picture.