Back to My Happy Place; A Mother-Daughter Trip - Apr. 2013 Trip - And Away We Go!

[librarygeek]

I have a few MUST DO'S for the next trip, mostly things I've never gotten the chance to do.

1. Meet Peter Pan
2. Dine at CRT
3. See every fireworks show and parade
4. Ride the monorail (can you believe I've never done it?!)
5. Be the rebel spy on Star Tours (yeah this one isn't under my control but a girl can dream!)
6. Spend more time exploring and appreciating the scenery
7. Eat a Dole Whip

I'll definitely be adding to this as my planning continues. Feel free to throw some suggestions my way! There's a lot I haven't done, and I'm sure lots I don't know about.

I got to be the rebel spy last time I was there! It was like my 4th time riding it that day, and I observed some things and formulated my hypothesis... don't smile at all while you are getting on the ride and it's starting up. They don't want a rebel spy that looks happy, lol! You have to look serious. At least, that's what I decided to try and whether it was coincidence or not, it worked!

So I thought I'd ask about time allotment. We're planning to be there for 6 full park days, and likely won't go to the parks on the day we come and the day we leave. So my questions is this - which parks do we go to more than once? And is park hopper worth it?

I like going to Magic Kingdom on the last day of our trip, as it represents WDW for me, and seems like an appropriate send-off.

Option 1​

Arrival Day - DTD
Day 1 - Epcot
Day 2 - Hollywood Studios
Day 3 - Magic Kingdom
Day 4 - Epcot
Day 5 - Animal Kingdom
Day 6 - Magic Kingdom
Departure Day - DTD if there's time

Repeating Epcot and Magic Kingdom seems ideal because both of those parks are bigger and will require more time to get through, and are much more fun at a relaxed pace.

Option 2​

Arrival Day - DTD
Day 1 - Epcot
Day 2 - Hollywood Studios
Day 3 - Animal Kingdom
Day 4 - Epcot OR Magic Kingdom
Day 5 - Universal Studios
Day 6 - Magic Kingdom
Departure Day - DTD if there's time

This way we get to go to Universal Studios, but it eliminates a repetition day which would make us more rushed.

To Park Hop or Not to Park Hop?​

Once we decide whether option 1 or 2 is best, we have to decide whether or not to invest in park hopper.

FOR - We get more flexibility with restaurant reservations, and if we choose option 2, we can split Day 4 in half instead of choosing one park over the other.

AGAINST - We could potentially book our restaurants in accordance with our plan and not need to spend the extra money on park hopper.

I'd love some feedback on this one! Is park hopper a good idea?

Well, here's my thoughts on this! If you have two extra park days, definitely Epcot and MK are the ones to repeat. If you're only going to repeat one, I would choose Epcot personally. Though with the new Fantasyland it might be a tough choice. I personally don't usually park hop, just because I think every park has more than a full day's worth of activities, and hopping just takes more time away from actually being in the parks to travel!

oooo yum! I think this one's a keeper!

Here is what we're looking at for a schedule so far. We've decided on the regular dining plan. Let me know what you think! Arrival day is still a DTD day, as we'll be too tired for any park action.

Day 1
Epcot

BREAKFAST - Crêpes des Chefs de France
LUNCH - Sunshine Seasons
DINNER - Via Napoli

Day 2
Animal Kingdom

BREAKFAST - Kusafiri Coffee Shop and Bakery
LUNCH - Anandapur Local Foods Cafe

Epcot

DINNER - Garden Grill

Day 3
Disney's Hollywood Studios

BREAKFAST - Hotel/Starring Rolls Cafe
LUNCH - Pizza Planet
DINNER - Mama Melrose's OR 50's Diner

Day 4
Magic Kingdom

BREAKFAST - Hotel
LUNCH - Be Our Guest

Animal Kingdom Lodge

DINNER - Boma

Day 5
Universal Studios - Islands of Adventure

Right now, the only for sure thing we'll be doing here is eating at the Three Broomsticks.

Day 6
Magic Kingdom

BREAKFAST - Hotel/Main Street Bakery
LUNCH - Pecos Bill
DINNER - Cinderella's Royal Table

Departure Day
Polynesian Resort

BREAKFAST - Kona Cafe

What do you think of this so far?​

Yum! I love reading dining plans Here's my thoughts on the places I've been that you are planning:

Sunshine Seasons - best counter service place in Disney, I think (except for maybe the amazing sandwiches at Earl of Sandwich!). I have a dining review here: http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=42845879&postcount=46

Anandapur Local Foods Cafe - Definitely the most appealing to me out of the AK counter service options. The area where you eat is pretty. The food is good, though nothing super special. http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=43096362&postcount=106

Pizza Planet - typical Disney pizza, but the themeing is really fun! The side salad was a lot better than I was expecting, I think I actually liked the salad better than the pizza! http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=42998796&postcount=89

Cinderella's Royal Table - Definitely something you should do once for the experience! The food was better than I expected too, given some of the reviews I had read. http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=42763903&postcount=34

Are you on the dining plan?

And as for Universal, I know one day isn't economical, and I told that to my mom, and she pretty much told me to be quiet She said, and I quote, "If I go to Florida and don't get to see the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, I will never forgive you."

She was kidding (mostly) but she offered to pay for that one day (I'm helping with the rest of the cost of the trip) so I'm going to let her.

We're doing the same thing in April. My parents are dying to see the Wizarding World, so we're going for a day. Honestly, there's not all that much at Universal that I really enjoy anyway, so we don't have another option that would be more worthwhile!

 

[rebeccaariel]

I got to be the rebel spy last time I was there! It was like my 4th time riding it that day, and I observed some things and formulated my hypothesis... don't smile at all while you are getting on the ride and it's starting up. They don't want a rebel spy that looks happy, lol! You have to look serious. At least, that's what I decided to try and whether it was coincidence or not, it worked!

Thanks for the tip! I'll definitely give that a try!

Are you on the dining plan?

Yes! We're planning on getting the regular dining plan. And thanks for all the dining review links! I appreciate it a lot.

I tried to book my first ADR today but I'm having trouble accessing the WDW website! Whenever I try to go to the website I just get a blank white page. Anyone else having any trouble with the website?

 

[rebeccaariel]

Forget what I said before about having trouble! I just made our first ADR!

Via Napoli for our first night in the parks!

 

[t_daniels]

Forget what I said before about having trouble! I just made our first ADR!

Via Napoli for our first night in the parks!

Us too!

Eta, not booked yet. But planned.

 

[rebeccaariel]

Day 2 of ADR booking!

Garden Grill for 6 pm!

We'll be heading over there after a day at Animal Kingdom with EMH in the morning and finishing up whatever we didn't get done during our first day at Epcot. So exciting! My mom just booked off that week from work so it's definitely starting to feel real now.

I've also started making a zipper organizer filled with everything we'll need for the parks, including little pouches to hold Fastpasses and our Key to World cards. Eventually I'll have all our touring plans, maps, ADR info, park hours, etc. in there. It's like my own little WDW bible or something. I'll post pics when I get the chance! I'm pretty proud of it, haha!

 

[rebeccaariel]

My mom has officially booked our week off from work! Yay!

 

[leshunlenese]

I really hope you enjoy garden grill. I know we did!

 

[mom2clr]

My mom has officially booked our week off from work! Yay!

When time off request is made is when you know it's real! How exciting!

 

[ja23k]

Since you are not doing TS at Morocco, you might consider trying their CS for lunch if you have time. My mom likes their CS much better and we go on every trip and split a platter (big!). YUM!

 

[rebeccaariel]

Since you are not doing TS at Morocco, you might consider trying their CS for lunch if you have time. My mom likes their CS much better and we go on every trip and split a platter (big!). YUM!

That's a good idea! We'll have to check that out.

 

[rebeccaariel]

So I thought I'd share some photos of my Disney planning book. I'm assembling every piece of information I'll need into this one book and bringing it with me to the parks. I have separate sections for each park which will include my touring plans, a list of character meet and greet locations, and parade schedules, which I'm waiting to print out until the week before the trip in case they change.

The first page is just a title page I made in Photoshop with a passport theme.

Next, there are all the most important, general touring tips I've acquired from various sources. There's also a map of the resort after that but I forgot to take a picture of it.

Then we've got the park title pages.

At the back of the book I have these little slots to hold the park tickets, fastpasses, and photopass card. There's also a little zip lock bag for any other doodads I may decide I need to include.

I've got a lot more to do, but obviously I can't really finish until right before the trip. I'm currently working basic maps to put in there also.

 

[mom2clr]

LOVE your planning book! I wish I were more creative or at least had the time to come up with something so cool. Right now, I have everything in a folder.

 

[ja23k]

Love your planning book!

 

[t_daniels]

So I thought I'd share some photos of my Disney planning book. I'm assembling every piece of information I'll need into this one book and bringing it with me to the parks. I have separate sections for each park which will include my touring plans, a list of character meet and greet locations, and parade schedules, which I'm waiting to print out until the week before the trip in case they change.

The first page is just a title page I made in Photoshop with a passport theme.

Next, there are all the most important, general touring tips I've acquired from various sources. There's also a map of the resort after that but I forgot to take a picture of it.

Then we've got the park title pages.

At the back of the book I have these little slots to hold the park tickets, fastpasses, and photopass card. There's also a little zip lock bag for any other doodads I may decide I need to include.

I've got a lot more to do, but obviously I can't really finish until right before the trip. I'm currently working basic maps to put in there also.

Wow. Holy. Cow. Very nice!

 

[rebeccaariel]

Thanks! It's all very exciting. And do you know what's more exciting than my planning book?

....

wait for it

..........

THE TRIP IS BOOKED!!!!!

We have just booked our stay and I'm so excited! I've also finished all our ADRs!

So this is the trip - we're staying at Port Orleans Riverside for 8 days, 7 nights. 5 days in the parks, one day at Universal Studios Islands of Adventure.

Arrival Day

Arrive! We haven't booked our plane tickets yet, but the plan is to get an early morning flight and then spend the afternoon in DTD.

Day 1

Epcot! 6:20 dinner at Via Napoli.

Day 2

Animal Kingdom for the morning and early afternoon, then we bounce on over to Epcot for a 6:00 dinner at Garden Grill and some World Showcase shopping.

Day 3

Hollywood Studios! 6:30 dinner at the 50's Primetime Cafe, and we can run on over to Fantasmic after that.

Day 4

Magic Kingdom for the morning and afternoon! Then we head on over to AK Lodge for a 7:15 dinner at Boma.

Day 5

IoA! No reservations or anything for this day. We're just gonna wing it

Day 6

Magic Kingdom again! We have an early dinner tonight to give us some time to watch the fireworks and parades and whatnot. 5:20 dinner at Cinderella's Royal Table! I'm so excited for this one.

Departure Day

We have an 8:00 breakfast at Kona Cafe, and then we have to get on a plane and go back home!

What do you guys think of the week I've got planned?

 

[pwdebbie]

That is some planner you have there!

 

[rebeccaariel]

Made one change to the ADRs! My mom was concerned that we wouldn't be able to find cheap flights that were late enough in the day to do the Kona breakfast on the day we leave, so we decided to do the Kona breakfast before we go to Islands of Adventure.

 

[librarygeek]

I tried to book my first ADR today but I'm having trouble accessing the WDW website! Whenever I try to go to the website I just get a blank white page. Anyone else having any trouble with the website?

The website gives me a lot of trouble sometimes. Glad you got it worked out, and congrats on booking your ADRs - and your trip!!

Your planner is absolutely gorgeous. I love what you did and would love to see even more details of that. Where did you buy the actual planner? I want to make one now!

 

[rebeccaariel]

The website gives me a lot of trouble sometimes. Glad you got it worked out, and congrats on booking your ADRs - and your trip!!

Your planner is absolutely gorgeous. I love what you did and would love to see even more details of that. Where did you buy the actual planner? I want to make one now!

Thanks so much!

I'll be sure to add more pictures once I have it all done. I'm slowly compiling more and more pages.

I got the actually planner from the dollar store! I was in there for some other stuff and found it in there. I was pretty surprised because it's quite good quality for something at the dollar store. Any office supply store should have something similar too.

 

[rebeccaariel]

Help! I'm wavering on my plans! This was bound to happen sooner or later

I'm happy with all my ADRs but I've started to wonder if breakfast is the best use of a TS credit. I know you don't get the most bang for your buck using it for breakfast, and while my mom keeps telling me to stop worrying about it and just book whatever I want (she's a go-with-the-flow type of person), I can't help but wonder if we should go to dinner instead of breakfast on the night we go to IoA.

What do you guys think? I really do want to try Tonga Toast at Kona, but there are so many restaurants that sound great. The other plus side of doing breakfast instead of dinner that night is getting to stay later at IoA and seeing Hogwarts all lit up and whatnot.

Talk me into keeping Kona/talk me out of it?