Ari's PTR- Leaving in 9 days!! Updated 8/2

[arilvdc]

Hello to everyone! Arilvdc here, reporting for duty. After reading everyone else's reports, I decided to write ours. This is my (our?) first Pre Trip Report, for our first trip ever!

UPDATES
How will we get there?
Universal?
ADR's
Dining Changes
Now with Deluxe Dining!
Mickey Mail Today!
Upgrade to SSR!
Disneyland Trip Update 8/1


Cast of characters = Myself, 24 and my SO, Danny, also 24.

We're at the Long Beach Grand Prix! Aren't we cute?​

****Disclaimer!!***
I like to talk, A LOT. So these posts may be long and include vast amounts of oversharing!

-Some info on us-

I am 24, overly fond of cerulean blue and lime green, Stitch! and I am a complete foodie. I work as an after school educator for a year round school so I end up with long breaks of no work spread throughout the year, the largest of which ends up in August. My SO is also 24, likes green, loves roller costers and anything Pixar. He's a red light photo tech who works graveyard so I hardly see him during the week, but he gets awesome benefits-including two weeks paid vacation every year. We all should be so lucky! We currently reside in a cozy apartment in sunny Long Beach, CA just a 5 minute walk from the beach.

Why Disney?

We've always wanted to go to Disneyworld but had never made concrete plans since it's so far away. We normally go to Disneyland- we're AP's and are usually there 5 or 6 times a month since we live less than 20 miles from the park. We visit even more during the school breaks since we have more free time, and the parks tend to be less crowded. We're real DL vets, I even used to work there, so WDW seems like a new and shiny adventure.

Why Now?

Earlier this year I heard about lastminutetravel.com's promo and tried to win and after spending a what felt like a lifetime......... I finally snagged a reservation the LAST day of the promo for beautiful Coronado Springs, August 15-22. After talking about our vacation for a few weeks, we decided to take advantage of our schedules AND the 4/3 promotion and add on a second week at All Star Movies, August 8-15. Two weeks are even better than one! But when free dining was released I ran the numbers and after many conversations we decided to change our package to free dining August 22-29. Unfortunately ASMovies was booked and we had to switch to All Star Music. Truthfully, neither of us could tell you the difference between the two. ​

 

[arilvdc]

How will we get there?
Originally we were planning to leave Friday August 14th on a red eye from LAX because I volunteer every year at YMCA Camp Oakes. This year's camp is running from August 8th-15th, and I was planning to come back a day early to leave for WDW.

Camp Oakes, how I miss thee!

I farecast'd and kayak'd the heck out of a few select overnight flights and the prices just kept climbing higher and higher ($310, $359, $389), so I held off on purchasing. It turned out to be good thing I did because my hours at work were cut and I had to make a really hard choice- either go to camp and not have any money for WDW, or stay at work for the camp week and have $$. After even more discussion with The Boy, I decided not to go which is something that is still making me sad since we're planning everything for the campers right now.

I kept watching fares go into the stratosphere ($490!!!) until my SO asked if we could go to the beach since he'd never seen the Atlantic. I started researching, and lo and behold! A $99 fare into Fort Lauderdale, along with a rental car for $20 a day (plus fees!). On top of that, I had $25 coupons on airfare. I purchased two tickets, and we were set. I also purchased our return tickets for $99, for a grand total of $240 round trip, including fees/rental car. LAX->FLL, MCO->LAX We're planning on dropping off the rental car at MCO on Saturday and taking the Magical Express to WDW- I gave them a flight number that was coming in when we should be dropping off the car. I hope that's okay!​

Current Itinerary
August 13th- Leave LAX for red eye flight to Ft. Lauderdale
August 14th -Pick up rental car and drive to Orlando
Stops- Beach
August 15th- Drop off rental car at MCO, take ME to CSR
August 22nd- Check out of CSR, Check in to ASMu
August 29th- Check out of ASMu, take ME to MCO, MCO->LAX​

 

[arilvdc]

Universal?
I had forgotten that we won 7 day, 2 park passes to Universal from the Super Bowl Promo, so my SO suggested that we use our rental car to drive there, and visit on 8/14. If we have time during the second week we might end up going back, but it's not set in stone. I've been trying to find a hotel room for the night of 8/15, but I'm not sure where to stay. Does anyone have any suggestions? Are the cheapie hotels really bad?


Current Itinerary
August 13th- Leave LAX for red eye flight to Ft. Lauderdale
August 14th -Pick up rental car and drive to Orlando
Stops- Beach, Universal studios, night at area hotel?
August 15th- Drop off rental car at MCO, take ME to CSR
August 22nd- Check out of CSR, Check in to ASMu
August 29th- Check out of ASMu, take ME to MCO, MCO->LAX​

 

[arilvdc]

What we've all been waiting for.....ADR's!!!

My SO told me "I don't care where we eat, I just want a really good steak at least once. You can eat my dessert, too." What a man! I knew I liked him for a reason. I got to choose all of the restaurants for the second week, and we're planning on CS for the first week. So on 5/24 I stayed up until 4am out time to make my ADR's for free dining. I wish they had the online reservation system then, but here is what I managed to snag, (all were first choice!)

Sat Aug 22- Raglan Road 7:45PM
Sun Aug 23- Whispering Canyon Cafe 7:05PM
Mon Aug 24- Teppan Edo 7:10PM
Tues Aug 25- Chefs de France 7:00PM
Wed Aug 26- 'Ohana 9:35PM
Thurs Aug 27- Mama Melrose F! Package 3:30PM
Friday Aug 28- Le Cellier 8:25PM
Sat Aug 29- Kona Cafe 7:30AM

The only one I that's iffy to me is 'Ohana. 9:35 is right before closing isn't it? The time itself doesn't really bother me as we're West Coast people, and 9 is like 6 to us. I just don't want cold food or bad service. Does anyone have any experience with late dining at 'Ohana?
​

 

[arilvdc]

Ch-ch-changes!!!
We're getting closer to our departure date, and my SO is getting somewhat excited about the food- mostly because I'm so excited. We've made a few more ADR's for the first week, and changed some for the second week. We cancelled WCC and added park fare breakfast instead. I really wanted to try the strawberry soup, and my SO luuuuurves Mary Poppins! We also booked a Chefs De France lunch on 8/17 so we can see Remy!

I have no idea how I forgot to put this in the first few posts, but halfway through my trip I will celebrate my birthday! Yay!! My very first WDW celebration. We're planning on going to T-Rex, and I'm going to build a dino. I love build a bear and dinos, so the combo sounds like heaven!

Current Itinerary
August 13th- Leave LAX for red eye flight to Ft. Lauderdale
August 14th -Pick up rental car and drive to Orlando
Stops- Beach, Universal studios, night at area hotel?
August 15th- Drop off rental car at MCO, take ME to CSR
August 17th- Chef's De France
August 22nd- Check out of CSR, Check in to ASMu, Raglan Road 7:45PM
Sun Aug 23- 1900 Park Fare Breakfast
Mon Aug 24- Teppan Edo 7:10PM
Tues Aug 25- Chefs de France 7:00PM
Wed Aug 26- 'Ohana 9:35PM
Thurs Aug 27- Mama Melrose F! Package 3:30PM
Friday Aug 28- Le Cellier 8:25PM
Sat Aug 29- Kona Cafe 7:30AM
August 29th- Check out of ASMu, take ME to MCO, MCO->LAX​

 

[deslynnpatterson]

i love your PTR so far you trip is coming up soo fast!! you got a lot of great ADRS and that awesome that you and your SO won tickets i cant wait to read me your plans sound so exciting!!!

 

[arilvdc]

i love your PTR so far you trip is coming up soo fast!! you got a lot of great ADRS and that awesome that you and your SO won tickets i cant wait to read me your plans sound so exciting!!!

Thanks so much!!! I'm really excited, but I'm also a little scared. WDW is so far, and I keep running through the what-ifs?... I'm trying my hardest to stop obsessing about everything.

 

[arilvdc]

So yesterday -17 days before we leave- my SO decides that Deluxe Dining sounds like a super good option. So I got to redo all of our ADR's. If you're looking for some 8/22-8/28 check the August thread! I cancelled some. I also found out that I'm going to be traveling for work next week, for the first time ever! So this weekend's trip to Disneyland will be the LAST one until Disneyworld! I'm so excited.

​

 

[shannn]

I followed you over from my pretrippie and I'll read.

I've never been to DL -- any pictures you can share. I'd LOVE to go one day! You are going to love DW.

What new ressies did you get?? We're doing DxDP when we go in October, and I'm drooling over the menus already.

(Going to the beach tomorrow ...oops it's 1:17 AM... today, so I'm not deserting you -- I'll be back on Wednesday!)

 

[arilvdc]

I followed you over from my pretrippie and I'll read.

I've never been to DL -- any pictures you can share. I'd LOVE to go one day! You are going to love DW.

What new ressies did you get?? We're doing DxDP when we go in October, and I'm drooling over the menus already.

(Going to the beach tomorrow ...oops it's 1:17 AM... today, so I'm not deserting you -- I'll be back on Wednesday!)

I think I love you!!

I'll update tomorrow, as it's late here... I'll also update on Saturday, I've got an amazing day planned, including that trip to Disneyland!

 

[CanadianPaco]

Great intro! Looking forward to hearing more!

 

[arilvdc]

We got our Magical Express vouchers today!!!!!!​

I had ordered them late because I didn't book the plane trip until last week, and they came in their own envelope today. I almost fell running up the stairs to show my SO the envelope with Mickey waving on the front!​

 

[Mickey_Mom]

Hey there! I followed you over from my PTR. Our dates cross but our plans don't. Woot for Mickey Mail!!!

 

[mickeymum]

I hope you have a Magical trip!!

 

[sjbarnet]

We are going for the first time too - - August 29th - September 5th. I loved receiving the Magical Express envelope too!

Enjoying your report!

 

[arilvdc]

We are going for the first time too - - August 29th - September 5th. I loved receiving the Magical Express envelope too!

Enjoying your report!

Awww... we leave the day you arrive!

I hope you have a Magical trip!!

Me too! Thanks.

Hey there! I followed you over from my PTR. Our dates cross but our plans don't. Woot for Mickey Mail!!!

I'm sure my plans will change, lol. They have been!!

 

[arilvdc]

We Got Upgraded!!!! YAY!

We received a pin code for the free upgrades last week, but they were all sold out. So I've been calling and calling and calling (and calling and calling and calling) and there has been nothing available. I saw on the resort boards that the availability opened up yesterday, so I called this morning (after accidentally sleeping in to 7:30AM PST!) and the I got a CM I had talked to on one of my 5 million calls. The CM gave me attitude, "That offer was sent out last week, ma'am," the same attitude she gave me last time, so I wasn't too hopeful. She stuck me on hold for about 5 minutes and then came back with the info that she's putting me in a studio at Saratoga Springs Resort. Then she put me on hold again! I was listening to disney muzak for almost 6 minutes, and then she told me that we were all set! I'm so excited!!!​

 

[Mickey_Mom]

Ah man! I'm sooooo jealous. Send some of that upgrade magic to me will ya?

Good for you!!!

 

[arilvdc]

Hooray for....Disneyland!!!

A very interesting day at the Park

Since I'm going on a business trip next weekend, and the week after that we leave for disneyworld (!!), my SO and I decided we'd go to Disneyland this Saturday as a sort of farewell trip. I won't be going again until after I'm back from Disneyworld! I got up early to call WDW and try and upgrade, which we did , and then we watched a movie. It was still really early, so we got ready and headed to the land.
Travel to, and into, The Park
The freeways here are all under construction and because of traffic and THREE separate accidents it took us almost 40 minutes to get to the park. Normally it takes around twenty. We we got there, we took the ramp that takes you over the traffic light since the arrows were green. (for any who haven't been to DLR, there's a huge, two way ramp that goes over the intersection of ball rd/Disneyland drive if you exit from the Southbound I-5. It has arrows on a sign board that tell you if the traffic is incoming or out going, which depends on attendance/time of day, and yellow plastic posts to create lane barriers) As we exited the ramp, people were honking at us, and all of the cars in front of us were making U-turns. Apparently, someone set the yellow posts in the wrong configuration, and everyone in the our lane was exiting straight into oncoming traffic! We turned around and I immediately called Guest Services and let them know. Luckily, there wasn't really anyone coming out of the structure or we might have been in a really bad accident.
Once we got into the parking structure things were a little...odd. Where were all the people? We parked right next to the escalators, walked down to the trams, and got on the one that was waiting.


I've never had that happen on a Saturday in August- must have been because all of the lower passholders were blocked out, as well as the CM's.

It's Murphy, our brand new dragon for Fantasmic!

So we made it to Downtown Disney, and walked through the bag check. For reference to all you WDW people, the following picture illustrates exactly how far apart our parks are. This picture was taken while I was in line to get into Disneyland.

Yeah, it's 5 minutes away. If you walk slow.

Once I got through the turnstile, I took a picture just for you guys!

Mickey's looking a little green...must have taken too many rides on those teacups!

Some pictures of Town Square....

Is that a churro cart?!? But I haven't had lunch yet!

After taking a the picture of city hall, a main street car pulled up and offered us a ride. With all the gazillion times I've been to the park, I'd never actually taken the car to the castle so we hopped in! Our guide was funny and entertained us as we traveled the 998 1/2 feet in style! I took a picture, but accidentally deleted it. Sorry! I then set my camera to trusty panoramic mode and took this lovely picture...

You can see tink's wire!


We headed into

Adventureland if the pic doen't work.

and got these gorgeous things, since I hadn't had breakfast yet.

Breakfast of Champions!
Of course my SO wanted his own, but since he HAD breakfast, he got the little one.
Then we went to the tiki room...notice the lack of people inside. It was like that in a lot of the attractions.

"You mean this attraction isn't closed?"

I get to be in the front? Again!

After the tiki room, we headed to the Golden Horseshoe for Billy and The Hillbillies. The dole whip had just whet my appetite, so I grabbed a table while my SO went and got in line. All I asked for was the chicken nugget basket, and this is what he came back with...

Breakfast, what breakfast?

Then the show started. It's a hilarious country musical show, and our favorite performers were there! I took a ton of video, but my camera phone is not compatible with my MacBook, so they're stuck on there for the time being.

I get to be in the front? AGAIN?!

Billy!Billy!Billy!Billy!


....to be continued!


​

 

[arilvdc]

Hey Everyone!!

I'm on my business trip, just wanted to say...P.F. Changs is super yummy!!!