Another dream vacation...this time, in the making!!

[paigevz]

Well, you're a TAD too early for me. I want you just to copy down all your plans and I'll do the same thing two weeks later.

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

As you read, I am no good at saying no to that! SO....come on!! The more the merrier!!

Woohoo! There's a good $4 in that bank, too! I'm very easy to care for, you hardly ever have to feed me, and I make a lovely family photographer!

 

[PrincessAlways]

About how long did your Wishes cruise last? What time did it begin? Do you recall the cost? Was it available every night of the weeks?

We had taken the cruises a few years ago. The first one was actually a "birthday" fireworks cruise for my brother. The boat was decked out with birthday banners & balloons. We had refreshments & a cake that I ordered when I booked the cruise. We boarded this one at the Poly marina. He was totally surprised! The whole family loved it so much that we booked one during another visit. My three nieces just loved it! The second was a Wishes cruise -- minus the birthday "stuff". It was still a great time! We boarded this one at the GF marina. The time went so quickly, but I think it was an hour. I believe the costs were in the $200 range. Of course the birthday one was more expensive.

You can find out "correct" info from the following source.

Fireworks Cruises for IllumiNations and Wishes are offered through Disney's Yacht Club Marina and the Magic Kingdom resort marinas. To book a fireworks cruise, call (407) WDW-PLAY/(407) 939-7529.

Good Luck! I don't think you'll be disappointed if you book one!

 

[jaycns]

Well, you're a TAD too early for me. I want you just to copy down all your plans and I'll do the same thing two weeks later.

I so wish we were going to be there at the same time!! I am having a lot of fun planning! By the end of the week I will post our final plans (to be altered "only" 1500 more times ).


I am also in the process of searching for the very best day bag to use at WDW. Any suggestions anyone?! We have been using a Columbia sling pack but it only goes over one shoulder and by the time a few days pass my one shoulder is gettin' awfully sore!! So I am looking for one that can be carried on either shoulder and might even convert to a small backpack. Also, it has to come in a color that dh will carry in public and has to hold up to heavy use (I am terrible about treating things "nicely"...I slam, drag, drop, push, pull and shove every bag I own).

 

[jaycns]

Woohoo! There's a good $4 in that bank, too! I'm very easy to care for, you hardly ever have to feed me, and I make a lovely family photographer!

Heck, if you come along as the family photographer I will double what's in your piggy bank!

 

[jaycns]

We had taken the cruises a few years ago. The first one was actually a "birthday" fireworks cruise for my brother. The boat was decked out with birthday banners & balloons. We had refreshments & a cake that I ordered when I booked the cruise. We boarded this one at the Poly marina. He was totally surprised! The whole family loved it so much that we booked one during another visit. My three nieces just loved it! The second was a Wishes cruise -- minus the birthday "stuff". It was still a great time! We boarded this one at the GF marina. The time went so quickly, but I think it was an hour. I believe the costs were in the $200 range. Of course the birthday one was more expensive.

You can find out "correct" info from the following source.

Fireworks Cruises for IllumiNations and Wishes are offered through Disney's Yacht Club Marina and the Magic Kingdom resort marinas. To book a fireworks cruise, call (407) WDW-PLAY/(407) 939-7529.

Good Luck! I don't think you'll be disappointed if you book one!

This is a great idea! I am going to look into doing it on at least one of our trips this next year!! THANKS!!

 

[jaycns]

This deserved it's own post...I am hoping this doesn't get lost...

I am in need of suggestions for a good day bag to use at WDW. I love sling type bags but the Columbia one I have only works on one shoulder. I would like one that you can carry on either shoulder and/or one that converts to a small backpack. It needs to be durable and come in a muted color so I can pawn it off on dh to carry sometimes. I don't need a million pockets or a ton of space but I do carry more then my KTTW and a camera.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!!

 

[jaycns]

This weekend dh and I will be sitting down and going over our final plans so that we can email them to the concierge on Monday morning!! That will give us just a few days to wait until our 180 day mark and the hopeful confirmation of all of our plans!! I am so excited!!

 

[MouseTriper]

Okay now wait...laughing.... I wanna put in my bid to be the family photographer!!!!!!! (I will even carry your bag around so you can pick whatever color you want)!!! Hahahaha!!!!

 

[jess98ac]

Did you find a bag? I'm a bag-a-holic so I always like to see new ones! I'm planning on using a Baggalini Messenger Bagg this time, but it's just a one shoulder one so I didn't think that was what you were looking for. I got it in black so DH would carry it, too. Plus, it's just us (no kiddies...yet) so it shouldn't be too heavy!

 

[momoftriplets]

This weekend dh and I will be sitting down and going over our final plans so that we can email them to the concierge on Monday morning!! That will give us just a few days to wait until our 180 day mark and the hopeful confirmation of all of our plans!! I am so excited!!

Well??????? Don't leave us hanging! What did you & DH decide?

 

[mlill]

I just read over your trip plan and it looks great to me! You are going to have a wonderful anniversary in WDW!!!
So how did your final planning talk go over the weekend? I can't believe you'll be making your ADRs already! Isn't it exciting?!!!

-Michelle

 

[jaycns]

Okay now wait...laughing.... I wanna put in my bid to be the family photographer!!!!!!! (I will even carry your bag around so you can pick whatever color you want)!!! Hahahaha!!!!

Sold!! Or Given!! Or TAKEN!! OR YES MA'AM!! Wouldn't that be the bestest thing ever!

We so have to plan a DIS meet sometime!!

UP NEXT...the plans are really made! WOO HOO HOOTY!

 

[jaycns]

Did you find a bag? I'm a bag-a-holic so I always like to see new ones! I'm planning on using a Baggalini Messenger Bagg this time, but it's just a one shoulder one so I didn't think that was what you were looking for. I got it in black so DH would carry it, too. Plus, it's just us (no kiddies...yet) so it shouldn't be too heavy!

Nope...no luck on the bag front yet. Tons of suggestions...good ones among them I am sure...but I have been side tracked by the ressie making excitement and the fact that most people seem to love the one shoulder bags. I just get sore after a week of being a packhorse for 5 people. Truth be told, I am just a wimp!

I did however buy my sister a Baggalini Messenger bag after reading so many good things about it. She has mentioned looking for a good messenger bag and not caring if it was one shoulder or two...and she has a birthday coming up in about a month....so I took a lot of DISers words for it and went ahead and ordered it for her!!

But...I am still on my own bag quest!

 

[jaycns]

I just read over your trip plan and it looks great to me! You are going to have a wonderful anniversary in WDW!!!
So how did your final planning talk go over the weekend? I can't believe you'll be making your ADRs already! Isn't it exciting?!!!

-Michelle

I am having so much fun planning the trip...I always do! Now it will just be how do I live with such a long countdown!!

UPDATE TO FOLLOW!!

**ONCE AGAIN...Michelle writes great trip reports...follow along over to hers...and whilst you are over there...take a look at MOUSETRIPER s report too! Those two reports are getting me through my waiting antsy pants stage!! **

 

[jaycns]

Drum roll please....................... .........

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! **pure excited energy had to escape**

The plans are set!!!!

Today I had the most fabulous conversation with the AKL IPO. Juanita was amazing! Flat out (no comparison) NICEST CM I have ever encountered!! Sweet, helpful, funny, full of ideas and suggestions, took a LOAD of time with me going over everything you could imagine. WOW. She really made me feel like I was the ONLY guest she had to take care of!

We have dealt with one other IPO office in the past and hands down...NO comparison...so it's not just the "average" level of service for the concierge level. It was so above and beyond. She should be training other IPO agents!! Hmmm...scratch that...then I would not be able to enjoy her wonderful personality and her helpfulness!!

So...that glowing review aside...it is now really time for the drum roll!!

Day 1- We will arrive about 9:00 AM. The boys will take part in AKL's Adventure Camp for kids from 10:00-2:00 PM. What a GREAT way to spend your first hours at Disney!! They will have a picnic on a private terrace overlooking a savanna, talk with a lodge animal guide and then have a private lodge animal tour. She also mentioned something about painting ostrich eggs and that they would learn about the African culture and art that abounds at AKL. I am so excited that they can take part in this!! She will book it for us 30 days out (when it books) but we are at the top of the waiting list!

While the boys do that we will NAP if our room is open or laze around the pool/hot tub area and or the CL if our room is not ready. When the kids are done we will enjoy the resort for the rest of the afternoon.

Come dinner time they will be "off" to Simba's and we will be off to dinner at Jiko...ahhh the romance of an anniversary celebration there!! Has anyone ever had the Jiko Celebration Cake? If so...any reviews on it? You need to order it in advance (not this far obviously ) but as you must by now well know...I am a crazy planning fool. SO...I am interested in finding out!

After dinner we will be off to DTD to take in the Cirque show and do a bit of shopping!! EXCITING!!!!

Well....that's what we have reserved for day one....day two shall follow!!

 

[Bibbidi]

I just spent the last two nights enjoying one of the best Disney Trip Reports ever! Your vacation sounded like a true dream come true--that is what I hope for one day -- although I don't think I'll ever get nearly three weeks out of my husband for Disney. We are heading down to the Contemporary for 3 nights in May and then on to the Beach Club. Your review of the Contemporary has me SO excited for that part of our vacation. I'm so glad to hear of all the fun your family had there. Now I'm going to dive into your pre-trip report. Thanks for all the effort you put into the last report!

 

[jaycns]

Day 2- This day is still up in the air. Although we do have the main parts hammered down. The dining plans!

We will start with breakfast in the lounge. My kids eat cereal most days at home so they will love doing it on vacation as well I cannot wait to taste the yogurt/fruit juice. Dh cannot wait for the cappuccino machine! Ahhh....concierge lounge...here we come!

As of right now we have an open slate until a late dinner at 'Ohana. "Goofy" will be turning 8 and his requested present/party is simply to go snorkeling. So...it now appears "Goofy" and I may be spending at least part of the day at Discovery Cove (oh the hardship for me!!! ). We will return in time to meet the other boys and dad who will enjoy another relaxing resort day (nobody else wanted to come ). Dh and I have been twice in the past few years and he said he would rather just "veg" at the resort (I think it's more him being cheap then him not wanting to snorkel )

If "Goofy" changes his mind, we will do something different. Maybe a few hours at a park or just some more down time at the resort.

We may wrap the day up with an EMH night at MK **this depends on the crowds that seem to be out and about, Disney sticking with the MK Sunday night EMH in September and how tired we are**

So end the plans for day 2!!

 

[jaycns]

Well??????? Don't leave us hanging! What did you & DH decide?

Don't worry Barb...I would never leave ya hanging!! I just wanted to be double sure it was what we were going to do before I posted them as final (although I do still reserve the right to change on a whim ). I hope that the weather has not been too cold up north!!

We need to start planning a trip reports board DIS meet!! And meet up and then we can all write up our own trip reports and see how wildly different they all turn out! Are you up for that challenge? Anybody else?

 

[jaycns]

My ticker is messed up!! It has an extra few days tacked on!! UGH...I am NOT waiting any longer!! I guess I will have to fix that up in a jiffy!