August 2012 Pop Century PTR... Lists, Planning, and General Thinking Outloud

[VACamm]

I've been MIA for awhile... real life set in and I've been away from the boards for a bit and have unfortunately been neglecting my PTR

However... as of today we have 12 agonizing days until our WDW trip! I'm so excited I just don't even know what to do!! Actually... I have a LOT TO DO!!! I have to start packing... as in getting out all of our suitcases and start laying out clothes to take with us. Why does it always take so much more effort to pack for a week in WDW than it does to pack for a week at a beach house?? I don't understand it...

Monday August 27th.... ANIMAL KINGDOM DAY

1. Arrive at Rope Drop
2. Head straight for Expedition Everest and grab a fast pass... then ride in standby line. I'm excited just thinking of riding EE!!
3. Walk to Dino Land and ride Dinosaur... I LOVE LOVE LOVE this ride!
4. Ride Primeval Whirl
5. Walk across the park over to Killamanjaro Safari and enjoy all of the amazing animals
6. Forest Trail
7. Jungle Trek
8. Kali River Rapids

After we complete all of the above MUST DO's... we have pretty much hit all of the headliners that we need to see. The things that I'd like to leisurely do in the afternoon whenever we feel the urge to trot in that direction are:

1. Its Tough To Be A Bug
2. Lion King Show
3. Check out all of the shops
4. See the bird show

We don't have ANY ADRs for this day... so we will probably eat somewhere QS ... not sure where yet. This is going to be a very lazy day with not much of any schedule so I guess we'll eat whenever we get hungry

AK closes early... so I'm thinking about heading back to POP or Downtown Disney at park closing. If we head to POP... we can eat at the food court there for supper and swim in the pool. OR if we head to DD we can shop and explore and eat something delicious there?!?! I'll most likely take a group vote and we will do whatever my family feels like doing that day.

 

[VACamm]

Tuesday August 28.... HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS DAY

This is the day that poses the most problems for me in my brain... it actually hurts my brain to think about this day. This day is giving me anxiety... and we havn't even lived it yet!

You see...... we are trying to do HS in 1 day. 1 day only. Only 1 day. There is a LOT to see and do in 1 day. Did I mention its only 1 day??? We are not getting park hopper option... so we have planned out all of our park days according to our ADRs. Sigh. I've been reading all of the boards and other websites as well and I think we've figured out how to make this work and still be able to see everything we want to see... AND fit in 2 ADRs for this day!!

Here is my 'plan' so far... with our MUST DOs:

1. Arrive at Rope Drope
2. Run Run Run Run.... Walk ..... Run Run Run Run.... Walk ..... Run Run Run Run.... Walk straight over to Toy Story Mania and GRAB FAST PASSES!!!!!!!! If the stand by is very very very short we will ride it in standby as well.
3. Mosey on over to Rock N Roller Coaster.... WHOOOOHOOOOO
4. Next we will ride Tower of Terror.... pure Disney Theming Masterpiece that it is.... LOVE it!
5. Then we will go to Star Tours... grab fast passes (if we can) and ride it. We plan on riding this as MANY times as we can today. My oldest son Zack is OBSESSED with Star Wars and his entire bedroom is Star Wars framed movie posters

Now we have ridden ALL of the headliners first thing in the morning and we are good to go!! Now we can relax a bit...

6. Muppet 3D show...
7. Great Movie Ride
8. We have Fantasmic Dinner Ressies for lunch at Mama Melroses around 12:30ish which I'm looking forward to. Last time I really enjoyed my meal there and I look forward to trying it again.
9. Backlot Tour.... this is always fun going with a First Timer (my husband) ... should be interesting

The shows is where I'm getting concerned because we want to see ALL of them. I'm HOPING that we can fit them all in.... these are not necessarily in order because I'll of course have to check showtimes the day we are there... but these are the ones we are going to try and see in the afternoon:

10. Indiana Jones Stunt Show
11. Cars Stunt Show
12. Beauty and the Beast... I'm obsessed with this show... it makes me cry every time. Its perfection!
13. Dinner at Sci Fi ... so so so excited. I know it gets a bad rap here on the boards, but I have ALWAYS enjoyed every meal I've ever eaten there.
14. Fantasmic.... my absolute all time favorite Disney Night Time Show!!


I'm not sure if we are going to be able to fit everything we want to do in or not... but we are going to try.

The things we are NOT going to do in this park that we don't really have any interest in are:
1. American Idol
2. Disney Channel Rocks
3. Disney Jr Live
4. Honey I Shrunk The Kids Playground
5. Little Mermaid
6. Animation tour thing

I think I'm tired just thinking about how busy and hectic this day is going to be... because not only will we be going to shows and riding rides... and 2 ADRs... but we also love the shops in this park and will want to check them all out as well. Its going to be a loooooooong day.................... But its going to be an AMAZING DAY!!!

 

[VACamm]

Wednesday August 29th .... Epcot Day Part 2

Rope Drop is not necessary on this day. HOWEVER>>>> if we do make rope drop that would be fantastic

Our plan is to spend time in Future World hitting up our favorites again that we already rode on Sunday but just have to ride again....

Spaceship Earth
Soarin
Living With The Land

At 11am when the World Showcase opens, we plan on spending the rest of the day in the countries exploring the ones that we didn't visit on Sunday. I especially love Morocco and Japan We might watch the show in America because its been YEARS since I've seen that one.

When we are hungry... we will grab some food in the WS somewhere. We don't have ADRs for lunch. I'm really actually thinking about EATING AROUND THE WORLD with my family. How fun would that be??? I'd love to grab something from a QS in several different countries and sharing from it. I know that would be a ton of food... but I'm game to try it!!

We DO have Dinner ADR's at Rose and Crown this night. I'm especially excited to eat here because its going to be a first time for all of us. I've only read good things about this restaurant... so I'm very excited!

Tonight we will either stay for Illuminations or head to DD for shopping.... not sure yet but we will probably do a vote again

 

[VACamm]

Thursday August 30th.... Magic Kingdom Day... AND our last day

Rope Drop.... is a MUST MUST MUST this day! We absolutely have to make rope drop because today we have to leave MK at 3:00 to make our flight home.

1. Rope Drop ... hopefully we can watch the welcome show because that would make our last day in WDW so so so so special
2. Run Run Run.... Walk.... Run Run Run.... Walk over to Space Mountain. Grab FP for SM and hop into the standby line to ride first thing. This is my absolute favorite MK ride!!
3. Buzz Lightyear ride... isn't this ride just so much fun?
4. People Mover.... I love People Mover... we might ride it 3x in a row just for fun
5. Tomorrowland Speedway... my 9 yr old is dying to drive this year by himself... ugh. Don't get me wrong I know that this ride is sorta a classic and all... but its sooooooooooooooooooooooooo boring!
6. Fantasyland to Peter Pan
7. Its A Small World
8. Mickeys Philharmagic
9. Winnie The Pooh
10. Lunchtime ADRs at Crystal Palace to spend our last WDW meal with Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, and Eeyore
11. Haunted Mansion
12. Pirates
13. Thunder Mt

Sadly we will leave this afternoon... its going to be a bunch of sad faces as we walk out of the park to our Pop Century Resort bus so that we can catch the Magical Express Bus at Pop which will take us back to the Airport for an evening flight.

We are going to fit as much in this day as we can... and thats a promise!!!!

 

[BearcatsFan]

All of your plans look great! The food court at POP is pretty good. If you decide to do DTD, Earl of Sandwich and Wolfgang Puck Express (Marketplace) are the two best QS there, IMHO.

You can get showtimes for your DHS day a week out if that will help with your planning. Go to this website http://www.wdwent.com/ - it gives showtimes, parade info, etc. for each park - but only on a weekly basis. Right now, he has info up for 08/12 - 08/18. HTH!

 

[VACamm]

All of your plans look great! The food court at POP is pretty good. If you decide to do DTD, Earl of Sandwich and Wolfgang Puck Express (Marketplace) are the two best QS there, IMHO.

You can get showtimes for your DHS day a week out if that will help with your planning. Go to this website http://www.wdwent.com/ - it gives showtimes, parade info, etc. for each park - but only on a weekly basis. Right now, he has info up for 08/12 - 08/18. HTH!

Thank you SoSoSo much for the advice!!! Sometimes I overthink and i freak myself out..... I probably just need to chill out a bit

 

[VACamm]

Well.... today marks 11 days until we leave for WDW !! Tomorrow is online checkin day which Im so excited for because it makes it even more real!!

Tonight I get out the suitcases and begin sorting...

 

[blancah76]

How exciting to be taking your husband for the first time

I really like the clark flip flops, i'm gonna search for those.

Hope you guys have an amazing time

 

[BearcatsFan]

Online Check-In Day!

 

[VACamm]

How exciting to be taking your husband for the first time

I really like the clark flip flops, i'm gonna search for those.

Hope you guys have an amazing time

I still don't think my husband even fully realizes what WDW is Its going to be cool watching his face as we walk down Main Street though!! I am hoping he falls in love with WDW like the rest of my family... his family never took him to WDW as a child, teen, or even adult so hes never been exposed to the Disney Magic!!!

Do you have a Macy's at your mall? That is where I found the flip flops. I tried them out in Busch Gardens last week in Williamsburg, VA for 12 hours walking around the park... they were COMFY!!!!!!

 

[VACamm]

Online Check-In Day!

Whooooop Whoooop!!!

 

[VACamm]

Good Morning Dis'ers!!!

Do you know WHY today is a good morning??

Because this morning I logged on to THIS>>>>>

Yaaaay!!! I get to check into Walt Disney World and stay at Pop for the first time in only 10 DAYS!!




So I did THIS>>>>>>

YAY!! We are checked in online at our 10 Day mark. I'm so excited and I'm TOTALLY in the Disney Spirit right now....




For the rest of the day in my office I will be doing THIS >>>>>>

I found the Disney Movie Music channel on Pandora.... so I can listen on my iPad allllll day at work Already this morning I've heard music from Aladin, Princess and the Frog, Rapunzel, Aristocats, Lion King, and Beauty and the Beast. Its gonna be a very DISNEY DAY!!!

 

[mommys3]

Yay for online check-in day We have 2 more days until we can do that! I saw that you mentioned BG...did you get the chance to ride Verbolten?

 

[VACamm]

Yay for online check-in day We have 2 more days until we can do that! I saw that you mentioned BG...did you get the chance to ride Verbolten?

Omgosh YES we rode Verbolten! it wasamaaazing!!! We absolutely loved it! We got there at park opening and ran straight there so we only waited about 20 min or so. I did get whiplash a bit though lol. Have you gotten to ride it yet???

 

[mommys3]

Omgosh YES we rode Verbolten! it wasamaaazing!!! We absolutely loved it! We got there at park opening and ran straight there so we only waited about 20 min or so. I did get whiplash a bit though lol. Have you gotten to ride it yet???

Yes, as a matter of fact...my husband lost his phone the first time we rode it We went back 3 weeks later and they had it at lost and found. Supposedly after close, they have at least a box full of lost phones from that ride alone Anyways, we love that ride (other than the phone incident)! Definitely best to ride right after the park opens as long as it doesn't break down On the other hand, I could do without Mach Tower. My oldest son loves it and will ride it alone most of the time because he's the only one that really enjoys it.

 

[VACamm]

Yes, as a matter of fact...my husband lost his phone the first time we rode it We went back 3 weeks later and they had it at lost and found. Supposedly after close, they have at least a box full of lost phones from that ride alone Anyways, we love that ride (other than the phone incident)! Definitely best to ride right after the park opens as long as it doesn't break down On the other hand, I could do without Mach Tower. My oldest son loves it and will ride it alone most of the time because he's the only one that really enjoys it.

ooooh i didnt even think abt losing my phone!! Im glad he found it though!!

 

[VACamm]

Today marks 9 days to Disney!!

Last night I got out all of our suitcases and put our Mickey Tags on them... then I packed all of our ponchos, toiletries, Mickey Ears, etc. I think this weekend I will pack all of our clothes.... I dont want to forget anything!! Why is packing for WDW so much harder than packing for a week at a Beach House??? ugh.

We watched Snow White last night.... what a great movie to get us in the Disney state of mind!!! xoxo

 

[VACamm]

MAJOR MAGICAL PIXIE DUST happened to me today!!! xoxo

When I make all of our ADRs maaaaaany months ago I accidently made our Sci Fi reservations for 2 people online instead of 4 people !!! (this is the only meal my parents arent joining us on)

I noticed my mistake over a month ago and Ive been daily trying online AND telephone to get a table for 4... I have felt soooooo bad because this was my 16 yr old sons ONLY dining request... I have felt like such a bad mom....

I had to get another reservation for 2 people an hour apart just in case... which means we would have to split up for dinner............... sad

However today I receives some Disney Magic!!!

I logged onto WDW dining reservations and there it was. A reservation for 4 at 6:20pm on the 28th!! I have never been so relieved in my life and Im just so happy that now we can eat as a family lol

I cancelled our 2 existing reservations... and all is well in the world again.

 

[BearcatsFan]

Reservation pixie dust! So nice that you won't have to split up now.

Can't believe you only have 8 days to go! I agree with you - it always seems harder to pack for WDW than a "regular" trip. I think it's because we know how much more expensive things are at the resorts if you forget and leave them at home (ie: toothpaste, aspirin, sunscreen )!

 

[mommys3]

MAJOR MAGICAL PIXIE DUST happened to me today!!! xoxo

When I make all of our ADRs maaaaaany months ago I accidently made our Sci Fi reservations for 2 people online instead of 4 people !!! (this is the only meal my parents arent joining us on)

I noticed my mistake over a month ago and Ive been daily trying online AND telephone to get a table for 4... I have felt soooooo bad because this was my 16 yr old sons ONLY dining request... I have felt like such a bad mom....

I had to get another reservation for 2 people an hour apart just in case... which means we would have to split up for dinner............... sad

However today I receives some Disney Magic!!!

I logged onto WDW dining reservations and there it was. A reservation for 4 at 6:20pm on the 28th!! I have never been so relieved in my life and Im just so happy that now we can eat as a family lol

I cancelled our 2 existing reservations... and all is well in the world again.

Awesome! So happy that things worked out for you!!! Sci-Fi is my favorite TS restaurant We have an ADR at 50's PTC for 6:45 on the 28th!