Back from WDW... Get ready for my Trip Report...

[Chkysbak]

Ok so we are getting down to it and to tell you the truth, I am going INSANE.

Do I rent a car or not?
Decided not to rent a car, to save some money.

Ok so my wife and I have been talking and she seems to think that getting a hotel room at the airport would be worth the money. Especially since I would need to wake up at 0300 and get going to the airport. My flight leaves at 0645 and it takes 1.5 hrs to get to the airport.

Anyway, I agreed but wanted to be "frugal". So I went to priceline and put in $35.00 as my price. OMG It was accepted, and at a hotel 1/2 mile from the airport. I couldn't believe it so I checked and it was an extended stay hotel. The normal rate for that room is $114, which means I saved ~70%.

Well that means that Thursday after work I will be driving to the hotel, and getting more rest than planned. Guess I can't complain on that note Then on Friday I wake up and go to the airport and park, then We are in Disney

 

[Cherinva]

Hi there. I've been reading all you've posted and I find it interesting to know that I am not the only person obsessed with planning a trip to Disney. Only, I've been working on ours for over a year. We will be in WDW during the same time frame as you. August 9th - 16th. Staying at the AS Music. I too, have planned out every aspect of the trip, all the ADR's, made many spread sheets for packing, and where to find the pressed penny locations..I even have gone so far as to make info cards with information on them and laminated them so they don't get wet from a ride or sweat. I have one for all the ADRs, Disney phone numbers, including all lost and founds, info on Extra Magic hours and where to find the wrist bands....it's been a lot of HARD work and much time on the computer. Have also listened to EVERY Pod Cast show and email show. Now it's just a waiting game until we leave. We too have an early morning flight (6AM), have to leave the house at 4am, but we are only 15 minutes from our airport. Enjoy your trip.

 

[Cherinva]

I guess I should tell you about our schedule...4 of us going, Me, my boyfriend, my grown daugther and my 11 YO granddaughter

Sat: Flying into MCO, arriving around 10 am. Taking Magic Express to AS Music. Checking in, having lunch at the food court, then off to Downtown Disney to shop until we drop. Also having my GD done up at the BBB as Hanna Montana( it's a surprise). Can't wait to see that!! Having dinner at McDonalds (to save one dinner ticket for the next day), then taking the bus to TTC to jump on the Monorail to then shop at the Hotels gift shops.

Sun: Getting up early to head to the MK for the day. Oh, did't mention that I have someone with us who has NEVER been to the World, so need to allow extra time for pictures. Having lunch at Caseys, then GD being done up at the BBB at the castle as Cinderella (it's a surprise), then dinner at Cinderella's Royal Table.

Mon: Spending the day at AK, and having dinner at the Tusker House. Maybe going back to MK, since the park closes at 8, but then again thats a day with Extra magic hours, so who knows.

Tues: Blizzard Beach, then going to MK to have dinner at Chrystal Palace.

Wed: Hollywood Studios, having dinner at 1900 Park Fare at the Grand Floridian, then back to the Studios

Thurs: Epcot all day. Two of us are having Dinner at the Coral Reef and the other two at the Beirgarten in Germany.

Friday: Typhoon Lagoon, then back to MK to have Dinner at the Liberty Tree Tavern and finish our trip there.

Sat: Fly back home...with a long layover in Atlanta, will take 8 hours to get back to VA.

 

[Cherinva]

Forgot to mention, we are having Breakfast on Tuesday at O'Hannas with Stitch and Friends ( have done this before and it's wonderful) and then on Friday having Breakfast at Chef Mickey's. Am excited about that one.

 

[Chkysbak]

Wow, was starting to wonder if I was the only one that had OCD problems. I see that you and I have spent awhile planning our vacations. Of course its not fair you have had 6 more months that I did. That is ok planning a trip to WDW in 6 months is kinda a dream...

We are planning to eat at the some of the same restaurants that you are, but I think we are going on different days. I was wanting to do the same thing that you are doing on our arrival day, but my wife insisted on MK. I guess she is excited... what what am I saying..... So am I

I realize that we will be park hopping as well, but hopefully my feet will be ok after all that walking.

Great to see that we are going to be there during the same time. Nothing people getting both there OCD and Disney fix.

 

[karylrocks]

We will also be staying at a hotel near the airport the night before our trip. There are 7 of us from four different households and the logistics of getting everyone out and to the airport for our 6 a.m. flight were really stressing me. So we got 2 rooms at a hotel that has "park and ride" that will shuttle us to and from the airport, and it isn't costing all that much more than parking 2 cars at the airport for the week. This way we will be all packed and ready to go the night before.

I have also been planning our trip for a year. I don't have any lists for packing, I just start putting things in a bag as I think of it and then start getting my clothes together a couple of days ahead. I do like the idea of laminated information cards. We leave in 3 weeks. Then on to planning DD's wedding (piece of cake compared to planning a WDW trip).

 

[Nancy for Disney]

Cherinva and Chkysbak you make me feel much better. DH took my planning book to show everyone at his work. He said that they were impressed about how organized I was. I told DH that I wasn't organized just obsessive and crazy. This is so unlike me too. I am normally very laid back and go with the flow. I have been wanting to make this trip for so long I just don't want to miss anything.

I am already having trouble sleeping. How about you? I am very excited that I just finished my last Saturday for working. I work Tues - Saturday. Since I am taking off the Thursday before we go I just have two more working days to go and I am on my way!



Hopefully I will run into you. I think we will be at some of the same parks on the same days. I still haven't figured out how I am going to do a lime green Mickey head. We don't have a Home Depot.

Here is my schedule:

Aug 8: arrival
Aug 9: MK
Aug 10: EPCOT
Aug 11: AK
Aug 12: EPCOT
Aug 13: HS
Aug 14: open
Aug 15: MK


We are at POR so I won't be seeing either of you at All Star Resorts.

 

[Nancy for Disney]

I just went to weather.com and found out that right now it is 82 degrees in Orlando and feels like 86. Where I am at (midwest) it is 94 and feels like 114. This Florida and August thing may not be so bad after all.

 

[Chkysbak]

Well lets just say that I haven't even begun to pack any clothes for the trip. I have kinda made a statement that the house needs to be clean before we pack. Well my DS rushed to his room and started to vacuum. Well needless to say that the rainbow vacuum didn't like legos so he burn up the belt. That was an easy fix, but he felt so bad. I told him I wasn't angry, just a little disappointed. He snobbed a little, but finished picking up the legos, then finished vacuuming. My DD on the other hand, well its going to take a MIRACLE to get her room clean. Of course I realize that our room isn't as clean as I want it to be, but I will fix that this afternoon. Oh yeah I would have helped, but I had drill this weekend so I was away. Didn't want people to think I was bossing and not helping.

Anyways, going back to sleep. Well I can safely say that I will be the only one not effected by the sleeping schedule that we are going to have in Disney. I typically get up at 0430 so I will be up then or maybe sleep a little later, but can't sleep past 0600 now even if I tried. Everyone else in my house isn't morning people, but hopefully some WDW magic will help with that.

The idea of the lime green mickey heads is cool, just going to have to go to Home Depot today to pick some up. I will tell you what, I will get an extra lime mickey head. If I see ya I will give ya one

I took my stuff to my friends house, lets just say they KNOW I have OCD. I am a member of OCD and proud of it They all tell me so when are you scheduling fun... I told them EVERYWHERE

Can't believe that it is only

3 DAYS

until WDW.

I don't know that if anyone will be here when I return, or when I plan on doing an after WDW trip report. I want to thank everyone that has suffered through all my ramblings

GROUP HUGS FOR EVERYONE


If I don't see anyone, HAVE A GREAT WDW TRIP. Of course you realize that I will post probably about 10 more times until we leave...lol Just wanted to get some of the formalities out of the way.

 

[Chkysbak]

See I told you, I would post again a million times.

Well I just faxed in my room requests

Step 1 of 1000 - COMPLETE

 

[Cherinva]

I too have been checking the weather in Orlando, and it does appear that it's 4 degrees cooler there than here..that makes me happy. To Nancy for Disney, it looks like we will be in MK on the same days. The only way to notice us, is that there will be 4 of us (1 man) who will be wearing Red Converse sneakers. If you see us, please feel free to say hello...that goes for Chkysbak as well. This has been fun. Maybe we could all share our trip experiences after we get back.

 

[Cherinva]

Nancy for Disney..this made me laugh...I have a planning book too...a 3 ring binder that I have tabs in for everyday and that I'm carrying with us. I had the same thought about not wanting to miss anything. At first, my family thought I was crazy to do it, but after a while, they put their thoughts into it also. It became a family project. My boyfriend is the only who hasn't been to Disney before, but I've never planned a trip like this one. I found out last year by "winging it", we missed so much....Not this time. I hope we run into each other....have a wonderful time and a "Magical Day"

Cherinva and Chkysbak you make me feel much better. DH took my planning book to show everyone at his work. He said that they were impressed about how organized I was. I told DH that I wasn't organized just obsessive and crazy. This is so unlike me too. I am normally very laid back and go with the flow. I have been wanting to make this trip for so long I just don't want to miss anything.

I am already having trouble sleeping. How about you? I am very excited that I just finished my last Saturday for working. I work Tues - Saturday. Since I am taking off the Thursday before we go I just have two more working days to go and I am on my way!



Hopefully I will run into you. I think we will be at some of the same parks on the same days. I still haven't figured out how I am going to do a lime green Mickey head. We don't have a Home Depot.

Here is my schedule:

Aug 8: arrival
Aug 9: MK
Aug 10: EPCOT
Aug 11: AK
Aug 12: EPCOT
Aug 13: HS
Aug 14: open
Aug 15: MK


We are at POR so I won't be seeing either of you at All Star Resorts.

 

[Cherinva]

Chkysbak, there's no suffering here as I share your desire for the Land of the Mouse. I have enjoyed this bit of time. If you see a group of 4 people and the man is wearing red converse sneakers, please stop us and say hello. It would be great to meet you and your family.

Well lets just say that I haven't even begun to pack any clothes for the trip. I have kinda made a statement that the house needs to be clean before we pack. Well my DS rushed to his room and started to vacuum. Well needless to say that the rainbow vacuum didn't like legos so he burn up the belt. That was an easy fix, but he felt so bad. I told him I wasn't angry, just a little disappointed. He snobbed a little, but finished picking up the legos, then finished vacuuming. My DD on the other hand, well its going to take a MIRACLE to get her room clean. Of course I realize that our room isn't as clean as I want it to be, but I will fix that this afternoon. Oh yeah I would have helped, but I had drill this weekend so I was away. Didn't want people to think I was bossing and not helping.

Anyways, going back to sleep. Well I can safely say that I will be the only one not effected by the sleeping schedule that we are going to have in Disney. I typically get up at 0430 so I will be up then or maybe sleep a little later, but can't sleep past 0600 now even if I tried. Everyone else in my house isn't morning people, but hopefully some WDW magic will help with that.

The idea of the lime green mickey heads is cool, just going to have to go to Home Depot today to pick some up. I will tell you what, I will get an extra lime mickey head. If I see ya I will give ya one

I took my stuff to my friends house, lets just say they KNOW I have OCD. I am a member of OCD and proud of it They all tell me so when are you scheduling fun... I told them EVERYWHERE

Can't believe that it is only

3 DAYS

until WDW.

I don't know that if anyone will be here when I return, or when I plan on doing an after WDW trip report. I want to thank everyone that has suffered through all my ramblings

GROUP HUGS FOR EVERYONE


If I don't see anyone, HAVE A GREAT WDW TRIP. Of course you realize that I will post probably about 10 more times until we leave...lol Just wanted to get some of the formalities out of the way.

 

[karylrocks]

I have also been watching the weather. It is 52 here and the other night I had to close the bedroom window and get out an extra blanket just to get warm enough to sleep. Looking forward to having week of summer, but I expect I will be glad to get back to my hometown weather. 19 days - time to start my hurricane watch. Anybody with me?

Chkysbak - Thanks for posting your packing list. I have used it to jot down a few things I hadn't thought of. DH told me that he has been up the past few nights because of my snoring - I am considering the Tylenol PM idea for DS16 and his friend who will be in our room, but DH doesn't really like the idea and is suggesting earplugs all around. I will use it as an incentive to get the boys to go to sleep before me so it won't keep them awake.

 

[Cherinva]

I started to watch last week, and so far so good. No major waves off of the coast of Africa, so for now, I think we all are safe. Enjoy your vacation.

I have also been watching the weather. It is 52 here and the other night I had to close the bedroom window and get out an extra blanket just to get warm enough to sleep. Looking forward to having week of summer, but I expect I will be glad to get back to my hometown weather. 19 days - time to start my hurricane watch. Anybody with me?

Chkysbak - Thanks for posting your packing list. I have used it to jot down a few things I hadn't thought of. DH told me that he has been up the past few nights because of my snoring - I am considering the Tylenol PM idea for DS16 and his friend who will be in our room, but DH doesn't really like the idea and is suggesting earplugs all around. I will use it as an incentive to get the boys to go to sleep before me so it won't keep them awake.

 

[Chkysbak]

Here is the latest

#1 = SHOWER ACTIVITY ASSOCIATED WITH A TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE A FEW
HUNDRED MILES NORTHEAST OF THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS REMAINS
POORLY ORGANIZED. UPPER-LEVEL WINDS ARE BECOMING LESS FAVORABLE
FOR DEVELOPMENT...AND TROPICAL CYCLONE FORMATION IS NOT EXPECTED
HERE OR ELSEWHERE DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS.

 

[Cherinva]

Looks good to me. Thanks Chkysbak.

Here is the latest

#1 = SHOWER ACTIVITY ASSOCIATED WITH A TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE A FEW
HUNDRED MILES NORTHEAST OF THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS REMAINS
POORLY ORGANIZED. UPPER-LEVEL WINDS ARE BECOMING LESS FAVORABLE
FOR DEVELOPMENT...AND TROPICAL CYCLONE FORMATION IS NOT EXPECTED
HERE OR ELSEWHERE DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS.

 

[Cherinva]

Hey, what's with the Lime Green Mickey Head? I have a Home Depot here.

 

[Chkysbak]

Apparently if you are on the DISboards (Which we are on now.. WOW), people have these on the bags, fanny packs, etc.. to show their affiliation with the boards.

 

[Cherinva]

Hmmmm, this is the first time I've heard about the LG Mickey Head. I have to admit, this is the first thread that I've been a part of, mostly I just read and get ideas. I'll have to go by Home Depot sometime this week and see what I can find. And for sure, I will be looking now that I know. This is going to be a slow week. ONLY 4 more days and a wake up. YEAH !!!!!!!