Around WDW in 14 days - a pre-trip report

[MissStitch626]

Your trip sounds so exciting. I love the idea for the binder - thanks for sharing your pictures. I'm totally going to start putting a binder together today!!

Have a great trip!

Glad you liked the pictures. Let me know how you get on with your binder, do you have a trip coming up soon?

 

[MissStitch626]

. . .and no good ever comes of it

Some back story first. As you know, I am a huge movie fan. I love all kinds of movies, and among my favourite genres is the horror movie.

You may also know that around the time when WDW start to run MNSSHP, Universal Studios also run Halloween Horror Nights. Not exactly a party, but, as one fellow Diser put it, an exercise in terror. It is a night where scare actors have one aim - to make you scream.

This is not the first time Halloween Horror Nights have been on my mind. On our previous trip around the same time of year, I was all set for buying tickets. What happened? Well, rather shamefully, I chickened out Some horror fan I turned out to be! In my defense, a horror movie watched from the safety of the other side of the screen in one thing. People in some very realistic make up jumping out on me? Whole other ball game.

However...I never really forgave myself. In spite of this, the idea never really entered my head until a few days ago, when I started to recall that I have no firm plans for the evening after we visit WWOHP, and my mind wandered to the other side of the Citywalk area and what would be going on inside Universal Studios. . .

So, what to do? I am now giving serious consideration to this, though I still want to have a look at the full event information before I decide. I can't wait to see what they have planned for this year and anticipate exactly how terrified I am likely to be

Has anyone been to the event before? Any stories to share?

 

[TanzUnited99]

Lol at the story behind Halloween Horror Nights!

Hope you manage to go this time around. I have never been so can not be of much help though if I'm honest I think I would be too much of a chicken to attend!

 

[PixieMama]

I don't know anything about Halloween Horror Nights... in fact, I don't know much about Universal Studios, as I've never been there. Sorry, I'm no help!

 

[MissStitch626]

Little bit late this week - the dreaded late shift strikes again!

I've been inspired by MarsMama's must-do lists and been thinking about our must-do experiences outside rides and shows.

1. Pick a pearl at Japan Pavillion - if you haven't done this, I highly recommend it. I didn't even know this was here until I spotted a thread about it on the boards and did it on our last trip - such a great experience. I ended up with a beautiful white/pink pearl and had it set there, one of my favourite souvenirs from our trip.

2. Club Cool - an entire room dedicated to Coke. . .and I MISSED IT??? This must be rectified. I will even try Beverly.

3. Art of Animation. Another new experience. This was actually recommended by a very nice taxi driver who picked us up a few times during our first trip and we still haven't gotten around to it but I'm really looking forward to this. I used to be able to draw a few of the less complex characters (when I say draw I mean copy from the cover of a video ) and I'm looking forward to learning how to do it properly!

4. Bike and/or boat hire - still can't believe we didn't do either on our last trip. I love watching the little boats going up and down the Sassagoula River, can't wait to do this. Plus, the idea of me actually cycling around the resort is

5. Use the pool!!! Seriously need to find some time to relax in the pool and not just look at it on our way past!

 

[MissStitch626]

Many, many pages ago, I mentioned the search for the perfect pair of Skechers. . .

Some people are flip-flop people. Some people are Crocs people. I am a trainder person, and these right here are my perfect pair of park shoes.

Wore them today for the first time (and pathetically tried to avoid any possibly way that they might get dirty) and I am now 100% shoe happy and ready to go!

 

[PixieMama]

Yay for getting your shoes!

My DDs did the "pick a pearl" at Sea World a few years ago... but we haven't done it at WDW. We'll have to plan on doing this on our next family trip.

We also need to do Art of Animation... that's another one we've never done! And I don't know why we haven't, as both my girls LOVE to draw/paint/color.

 

[MissStitch626]

If you could have one, just one, souvenir from the parks, what would it be?

Now I am never in a million years ever going to be able to limit myself to just one souvenir (hence the reason for the long gap between trips - I need to save up my spending money!), but for the purposes of the game, if I had to choose just one thing I could buy I think it would be this. . .

If I could never buy another Disney souvenir again scared1 I think I would be happy as long as I had this!

DH being the wonderful man that he is has told me I can buy one of these if I really want one (he's far too nice for his own good!) but I am secretly setting aside money on my own so that I can buy one without putting a huge dent in our daily budget .

In the "money is no object" fantasy land I have always wanted some of those fabulous (and fabulously expensive) pieces of art from the Art of Disney store in DTD.

What would you buy?

 

[MARsMama]

Congrats on getting your park 'shoes'!!
I'm not sure what I would get for a souvenir, although I do love that bag!! We got a Christmas ornament last time with the year on it, I am planning to get one again this time too. Other than that I haven't put too much thought into souvenirs as I'm still working on planning meals and making must-do lists!!

 

[PixieMama]

I hope you get your Disney Dooney bag!

I'm actually on the fence about the Disney Dooneys. I like most of the designs and thought about getting one... but I'm a Coach girl at heart. I keep thinking that if I were to spend that kind of money on a purse, I'd rather it be on a Coach that I know I'll love.

But I do like the "sketch" Disney D&Bs. So we'll see if I come home with one in September, LOL!

 

[jason4024]

You are definitely a lot further along on your pre-trip report than I am. I cant wait to read more...

 

[MissStitch626]

I hope you get your Disney Dooney bag!

I'm actually on the fence about the Disney Dooneys. I like most of the designs and thought about getting one... but I'm a Coach girl at heart. I keep thinking that if I were to spend that kind of money on a purse, I'd rather it be on a Coach that I know I'll love.

But I do like the "sketch" Disney D&Bs. So we'll see if I come home with one in September, LOL!

I was a bit underwhelmed when I first saw some of the Disney Dooneys and couldn't really see me spending that kind of money, but the anniversary designs have completely won me over! I don't know why I do these things to myself - if I buy it there's a good chance it will only see the light of day on dry, sunny days, otherwise I'd be the crazy person trying to shield by bag from the rain!

 

[jenneth79]

I hope you get your Disney Dooney bag!

I'm actually on the fence about the Disney Dooneys. I like most of the designs and thought about getting one... but I'm a Coach girl at heart. I keep thinking that if I were to spend that kind of money on a purse, I'd rather it be on a Coach that I know I'll love.

But I do like the "sketch" Disney D&Bs. So we'll see if I come home with one in September, LOL!

You could do like I'm doing and stick pins all over a Coach bag! It may be gaudy, but it's unique!



I actually do like the Anniversary Dooneys... but I'm with you, I still have a coach purse I got 15 years ago, and it's in great condition. I'll be a customer of theirs for life.

 

[MissStitch626]

65 days and counting. . .

I've hardly had a chance to update this lately - things have been crazy between Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt 2 coming out and the world's longest running conversation about monorails to keep up with (if you don't know what I mean check out the Theme Park board )

65 days seems like such a long time and such a short time if that's possible! I've broken it down into two pay days before WDW - the third is the day before we leave so I'm not counting that one - if I'm not organised by then I will be

Given the length of time I've been planning this trip I can't belive how many little things I still have to sort out - more sunscreen to buy, batteries to pick up, contact lenses to order - it's all the little things that I typically end up racing to the supermarket the night before to buy all in one go! The mission for this year is to avoid the last minute dash!

I also have further news on the Halloween Horror Night front - I am going!!! Ok, in theory I am going. DH and I spent almost a full Saturday checking out videos online of previous years' events and I'm in! DH has always been worried the event would be too intense for me and I would end up wishing I hadn't gone, but it looks like so much fun. We've agreed not to buy tickets in advance, we'll just see how we feel on the day we are there and if there are still tickets left we'll buy them at the gate. The way I see it, if it's sold out it wasn't meant to be!

 

[jenneth79]

65 days and counting. . .

I've hardly had a chance to update this lately - things have been crazy between Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt 2 coming out and the world's longest running conversation about monorails to keep up with (if you don't know what I mean check out the Theme Park board )

First off, welcome back and YAY on only 65 days!!!

I couldn't help it, I went over and checked out the monorail thread... that has got to be just an endless source of entertainment! Of course it has now dissolved a bit......

 

[MissStitch626]

First off, welcome back and YAY on only 65 days!!!

I couldn't help it, I went over and checked out the monorail thread... that has got to be just an endless source of entertainment! Of course it has now dissolved a bit......

Definitely entertaining! The Disboards have certainly taught me the true meaning of controversy!

 

[MissStitch626]

Which rides/shows/experiences at Animal Kingdom can you not live without?

Here are mine:

5. Festival of the Lion King - love, love, love this.

4. Kiliminjaro Safaris - not sure that's spelt right! Is it bad that I love this as much for the bumpy ride as the animals themselves?

3. Kali River Rapids - especially on a hot day! Not so great first thing on a cold one though!

2. Expedition Everest. One rule though. Never sit in the back row again. Felt every bit of that backwards stretch

1. Dinosaur! No matter what anyone says, this is a truly frightening ride and I love it! True story. . .first time we rode this, we were sitting in the front of the car - sorry, Time Rover - and there was a family of three sitting directly behind us, Mum, Dad and a little girl who looked about four or five, maybe a little younger. This was before my days as a planner so I have absolutely no idea what this ride was like. Neither, apparently, did the people sitting behind us. Honestly, I have never in my life heard screams like I did that day The poor little girl was absolutely terrified. Funny thing was, it made the whole experience so much more real to us as all we could hear throughout were these genuinely horrified screams coming from behind us. You know that part when the guy yells "you're not gonna make it"? I really believed it! Seriously though, there's just something about this ride that I could ride this over and over again. Amazing.

Never, ever, ever making my top 5 list is It's Tough To Be A Bug - no offense intended if you like this show, it just frightens the living daylights out of me

 

[MissStitch626]

 

[MissStitch626]

Looking at that pic just reminded me that a friend at work had an email today to say his girlfriend has found the most amazing deal for two weeks at Saratoga Springs next May. When I say good deal, I mean so good that I told him to go back and check she didn't mean Coronado Springs, I was so sure they couldn't possibly have found such a good price for Saratoga Springs

Ten minutes later another email comes through to say not only is she really talking about Saratoga Springs, she has also found another deal that is £200 cheaper again! I have now crowned her Queen of Holiday Planning and plan on having some kind of ceremony in her honour

Edited to add that I was really rather jealous - then reminded him and myself that I am going in 64 days time ha ha! And that I love Port Orleans so much I might not want to stay anywhere else

 

[PixieMama]

Good luck on getting your HHN tickets!

My Top 5 for AK would be:

5. ITTBAB
4. Finding Nemo - the Musical
3. Kilimanjaro Safaris
2. FotLK
1. EE

And my worst attraction at AK would be Dinosaur... I can't believe that's your
#1, LOL! But, to each their own, right? That's the best thing about WDW, there's something for everyone!