"Back to School" will have to wait, we're going "Back to Disney!"

[LMDisneygirl]

As I begin my Pre-Trip Report, I'm in my living room watching "Apollo 13" with DH, DS13 & DS11 (for the record that's Disney Husband, Disney Son 13, and Disney Son 11! ). As we watch the crew doing their training, I say, "See boys, that's just like Mission Space!" Then a minute later DS13 says, "Hey, isn't that Woody's voice?" YEP, WE ARE A DISNEY FAMILY!

I'm writing this report so I can "think out loud" & share my excitement (and sometimes indecision) with others who will understand me. And maybe I'll even have new friends stop in and say Hi (that means you!), and help me through those weird moments you sometimes have when planning a WDW trip.

Four weeks from today we should be in our favorite and most magical place! Strangely, that leaves me with mixed emotions! More on that soon.......

 

[LMDisneygirl]

I have this strange reaction to Disney trip planning (maybe any trip planning actually), and I'm wondering if I'm the only one.

Sometimes I just can't figure myself out. You see, whenever DH and I are contemplating a trip to our FAVORITE place I am SO EXCITED and I just want to BOOK IT and make it a GO! Who's with me here? THEN we make the reservation and suddenly I'm all Debbie Downer wondering, "Are we going to have fun this time? What if we don't? Have we gone too many times? Is it going to be boring? Are we doing the right thing......?" It's kind of crazy! I mean, it's a week at WDW, how can we not have fun? And let's face it, I've NEVER been at Disney wishing I could leave!

I'll admit that I get kind of melancholy & sad whenever I'm planning any trip. A therapist might be able to analyze THAT, but let's not go there! Fortunately it's an on and off thing, and I also have plenty of fun & excited times in my planning too.

So that's where I am at. Don't be afraid to read on! I promise there are bright spots ahead!!!

 

[LMDisneygirl]

We went into this spring figuring we wouldn't be going to WDW this year - especially after seeing that Free Dining wouldn't start until Sept 2nd. We have two boys who start school on Sept 3rd, so that just wasn't going to work. I know people have varying opinions on FD, but we ALWAYS welcome it! We have gone to WDW several times without it, but we're always on a budget, and we'd rather go more often on a lower priced trip than less often on a more pricey trip......cue the Free Dining! So there we were, sadly, without plans for a Disney trip this year. AND THEN.......we got an email with a FD pin code. "Hmmm. That's intriguing!" Well, who can resist thinking a little about the possibilities?

Thinking......
"The week RIGHT before school starts seems like a hard time to go. And what about the orientation for our soon to be 6th grader into Middle School, and the training for our 8th grader to be an orientator (did I just make up that word)? Oh look! The orientation is the morning of Thursday, August 22nd. And the FD Pin starts Sunday, August 25th. Interesting! And you know.....next year DS13 will be going into high school and probably having Marching Band practice through August, so we might not be able to get a value-priced-resort-free-dining trip for a bunch of years to come....." And there we started down the road to our 2013 trip to the most magical place on earth!

THE PLAN
The boys need to be at the middle school Thursday morning. DH is on vacation starting Thursday. We will be down, so we have some flexibility. Our current plan is: Leave Friday afternoon; Drive through the night; Arrive Saturday morning after our 18-19 hour drive; Check in at the Pop on Saturday; Get our park tickets 1 day early; Start having fun; Take a nap; Have lots more fun!!!!!

 

[LMDisneygirl]

So there I was, happily planning my trip.

I'm the kind of gal who makes a spreadsheet weeks (okay, months) in advance with park hours, EMHs, parade & fireworks times, etc. And before we head to Orlando we typically have a framework of which park we want to start with each day, when we are likely to be out late (like for the EMH at MK until 2am - my favorite!), and which days we might also be getting a late start (like, the day after the 2am EMH at the MK!). I was thinking that maybe THIS time we'd go a little more casual. Ok, I'll confess that I have the chart made. And yes, I've circled the night time EMH at MK and a few other things, but still I was thinking we'd wait and figure some of it out depending on what we're in the mood for when we're there. After all, we're getting pretty good at this! We've figured out how our family likes to do Disney, and we're HOPING for smaller crowds with it being the very last week of August and before FD for the general public.

So, as I was saying, there I was happily planning my trip...... And THEN I READ THE DISBOARDS!!!!!! And what did I find out?

MAGIC BANDS!!!!!!

That's right. The boards are all a twitter (not the hashtag kind of "a twitter", more the freaking out kind) about the Magic Band test coming in August. From what I read, some people at 4 resorts including the Pop (hey, we're staying at the Pop), who check in sometime in August by the 25th (hey, we're checking in on the 25th) will be part of a Magic Band test. And.....you might receive an email 17 days before your trip, and you might also be able to customize your Magic Bands on your Disney Experience on the Disney webpage. So of course I headed right out to my Disney Experience!

Long story not quite as long as it could be.....I was able to customize my Magic Bands for our whole family, and now it's a few days later and they say that they are "active". And I assume they'll be on their way to us soon. I could also make FastPass+ reservations. So I'm going to ASSUME that we are part of the test (although the boards say that being able to do this might not mean you are part of the test, and there is QUITE a bit of conflicting information coming from IT and the CMs ).

And therein lies my problem....or opportunity....depending on how you look at it.

Do we want to book FastPasses in advance? Do I want to map out all my days? I understand that I can cancel any FPs we make if our plans change, and it really doesn't hurt to make them, but am I okay with taking my unusually "chill" attitude toward this trip and throwing it out the window to start making FastPass ressies 4 weeks in advance? Decisions, decisions. So unlike me not to jump right on it!

 

[LMDisneygirl]

Guess what we got in the mail today!!!!!

Pictures to come later.....

 

[dgr1973]

Hi I'm here enjoying your PTR and having a little giggle cause you sound just like me getting a little sad and second guessing yourself about everything You posted to my queston about driving to Disney from Chicago and I appreciate your input and look forward to reading on about all your adventures!

 

[LMDisneygirl]

Hi I'm here enjoying your PTR and having a little giggle cause you sound just like me getting a little sad and second guessing yourself about everything You posted to my queston about driving to Disney from Chicago and I appreciate your input and look forward to reading on about all your adventures!

Thanks for stopping in, and especially for saying HI! It can be so lonely when there are lurkers but no one chimes in. I hope you stick around! We can be Disney Planning Friends, along with the thousands of other Disney fans on these boards.

 

[LMDisneygirl]

Yes, that's two "pre's" in my title! Pre-pre-packing!

What does that mean? Well, I have cleared out a little rubbermaid box and have just started putting a few things in it for our trip. We leave in 25 days (24 technically now since it's after midnight), so it's about time to start, right?

Here's what's in it so far:
- 2 Packages of Lamb's Wool (I'm buying one on each trip to the grocery store, and we'll go with 4 packs for DH probably)
- My thin yellow waterproof case from Typhoon Lagoon & Blizzard Beach
- My car seat belt adjuster! It's a triangular cloth thing that I got from Buy Buy Baby (which I never go to, but I went after an internet search). I hate how the seat belt starts going across my throat when I'm riding. It's not a problem for short trips when I am a passenger, but it's really annoying when we are on a longer ride. This totally saves the day though! You put the seat belt through and it repositions it so the seat belt goes across my shoulder where it's supposed to. SO MUCH BETTER!

That's all that's in there for now....but the thicker royal blue waterproof case (also from TL & BB) is about to go in there tomorrow.

Sometimes it's the little things!

I do also have a pretty wicked packing list in process too.

 

[dgr1973]

Thanks for stopping in, and especially for saying HI! It can be so lonely when there are lurkers but no one chimes in. I hope you stick around! We can be Disney Planning Friends, along with the thousands of other Disney fans on these boards.

I will be sticking around to hear all about the drive since its similar in distance to my own next year and I can live vicariously thru you as I wait and wait and wait for the next ten months

 

[AngieTank]

You sound like me
The five stages of planning a disney vacation

Stage 1: "I wanna go to disney" usually initiated by a friend who posted all their pics on FB or stumbling upon a souvenir
Stage 2: "LET'S BOOK NOW!!!!!!"
Stage 3: "Ok. We're booked!!!!"
Stage 4: "Do we really have the money? Should we have taken a Disney break? What if so and so is down during that week?"
Stage 5: Cue the countdown board and random disney outbreaks; also start watching all the favorite movies and flipping through the scrapbook.

 

[LMDisneygirl]

You sound like me
The five stages of planning a disney vacation

Stage 1: "I wanna go to disney" usually initiated by a friend who posted all their pics on FB or stumbling upon a souvenir
Stage 2: "LET'S BOOK NOW!!!!!!"
Stage 3: "Ok. We're booked!!!!"
Stage 4: "Do we really have the money? Should we have taken a Disney break? What if so and so is down during that week?"
Stage 5: Cue the countdown board and random disney outbreaks; also start watching all the favorite movies and flipping through the scrapbook.

LOL! I just pulled out last year's photo book and looked through it 2 days ago! Maybe the stages of planning a Disney vacation should be published somewhere! I'm sure we're not alone. My husband and I are ALWAYS in Stage 1. We live there! I think 4 & 5 overlap, since I was both freaking out about money and wondering if we are doing the right thing AND working on my packing list and PTR yesterday!

And don't forget the irrational fears: What if we don't have fun this time? What if the Love Bugs come early and are in full force? What if we spend the entire day behind a 300 person tour group who takes up all the FastPasses? What if we bring home bedbugs? What if, what if, what if???? I did a post on this once in a Trip Report, reporting in that NONE of my fears actually happened! So I try to remember that when the "what if's" start invading my brain.

 

[Howgreat]

Oh, I can so relate to the planning stages! This will be our third year in a row going to WDW (the last trip was a gift from my parents though, since we all went at Christmas), we are a one income family, and I know people are probably thinking, "How in the world are they affording that?" As soon as we booked, I had buyer's remorse but I have never felt an ounce of guilt while we are there, so....

Ultimately, it's our money, we love WDW vacations and we saved very carefully for this trip.

Enjoy!!!! Hope the days fly by for you!!!

 

[AngieTank]

Oh, I can so relate to the planning stages! This will be our third year in a row going to WDW (the last trip was a gift from my parents though, since we all went at Christmas), we are a one income family, and I know people are probably thinking, "How in the world are they affording that?" As soon as we booked, I had buyer's remorse but I have never felt an ounce of guilt while we are there, so....

Ultimately, it's our money, we love WDW vacations and we saved very carefully for this trip.

Enjoy!!!! Hope the days fly by for you!!!

I had that same rationalization with my parents last weekend. I said its our money and we don't ask you for anything so why does it matter to you lol.

And thank you!! 34 days <3 hope you have one coming soon

 

[AngieTank]

LOL! I just pulled out last year's photo book and looked through it 2 days ago! Maybe the stages of planning a Disney vacation should be published somewhere! I'm sure we're not alone. My husband and I are ALWAYS in Stage 1. We live there! I think 4 & 5 overlap, since I was both freaking out about money and wondering if we are doing the right thing AND working on my packing list and PTR yesterday!

And don't forget the irrational fears: What if we don't have fun this time? What if the Love Bugs come early and are in full force? What if we spend the entire day behind a 300 person tour group who takes up all the FastPasses? What if we bring home bedbugs? What if, what if, what if???? I did a post on this once in a Trip Report, reporting in that NONE of my fears actually happened! So I try to remember that when the "what if's" start invading my brain.

Lol the irrational fears are the best. Mine right now is "what if everyone thinks the same as us and goes the same week we are?" And the "are we gonna have fun?" Is a pre-trip recurring nightmare for me and then my fiancée laughs at me because he knows how ridiculous it is lol.

 

[usd2bmd]

We normally go when you are going... This year we decided on a cruise instead... Cue sad music... Out of Port Canaveral which is like torture... But luckily I have an awesome husband who has decided that we can go to downtown Disney the day before we sail out (the day we land in Orlando)

Although I am excited I think it may end up only making it worse in the fact that we aren't going into a park and don't have a trip planned...

The lad week if August does usually see lighter crowds and is out favorite time to go. But this year DD will be a senior so next year we will have to find a different time to go as it will interfere with college..

 

[LMDisneygirl]

So yesterday I posted a question: Guess what we got in the mail today? And the answer is.......



Magic Bands!!!

I'm still on the fence about whether I'm excited or not, but I'm leaning toward YES. It's just that we finally had figured out how we love to do Disney, and this is a change. I'm not that great with change, even when it's change for the good. For example, when I get a new camera I don't jump right in and start using it. I wait a while. I'm not sure why. My husband thinks I'm crazy! THOUGH......I must say that he's on the fence about the Magic Bands too, I'm guessing for the same reason as me. I'm really looking forward to reading updates from the people who are testing them at the start of August, since we'll be going at the end.

I created a post on the Disboards last night about my mom. I'll just copy and paste it in here, and then add the link below it in case you want to see the answers I've gotten.

I was talking to my mom on the phone tonight and telling her that we got our Magic Bands in the mail today. To which she tells me, completely unimpressed, "Oh yeah, we had to get those when we went this Spring". She proceeds to tell me how they were told that they had to go trade in their paper tickets at some window before they went into EPCOT, and that they had to get the wrist bands, and that EVERYONE was having to do that. This was confusing to me, so I suggested perhaps it was people with Florida discount passes that had to do it (maybe some sort of test for them?), and she assured me that NOPE, it was EVERYONE going into the parks. They all had Magic Bands.

I, being a reader of the Disboards and the MagicBand test reports, do not believe her. Especially since someone reported recently that the CMs were excited because these were some of the first Magic Bands they had seen. And I'm wondering what in the world she was talking about.

Is she crazy? Or am I?

Thoughts?????

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3149358&highlight=another+kind+of+bands

 

[AngieTank]

So yesterday I posted a question: Guess what we got in the mail today? And the answer is.......

http://s1097.photobucket.com/user/lorimill24/media/Disney 2013 PTR/DSCN4471.jpg.html

Magic Bands!!!

I'm still on the fence about whether I'm excited or not, but I'm leaning toward YES. It's just that we finally had figured out how we love to do Disney, and this is a change. I'm not that great with change, even when it's change for the good. For example, when I get a new camera I don't jump right in and start using it. I wait a while. I'm not sure why. My husband thinks I'm crazy! THOUGH......I must say that he's on the fence about the Magic Bands too, I'm guessing for the same reason as me. I'm really looking forward to reading updates from the people who are testing them at the start of August, since we'll be going at the end.

I created a post on the Disboards last night about my mom. I'll just copy and paste it in here, and then add the link below it in case you want to see the answers I've gotten.

I was talking to my mom on the phone tonight and telling her that we got our Magic Bands in the mail today. To which she tells me, completely unimpressed, "Oh yeah, we had to get those when we went this Spring". She proceeds to tell me how they were told that they had to go trade in their paper tickets at some window before they went into EPCOT, and that they had to get the wrist bands, and that EVERYONE was having to do that. This was confusing to me, so I suggested perhaps it was people with Florida discount passes that had to do it (maybe some sort of test for them?), and she assured me that NOPE, it was EVERYONE going into the parks. They all had Magic Bands.

I, being a reader of the Disboards and the MagicBand test reports, do not believe her. Especially since someone reported recently that the CMs were excited because these were some of the first Magic Bands they had seen. And I'm wondering what in the world she was talking about.

Is she crazy? Or am I?

Thoughts?????

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3149358&highlight=another+kind+of+bands

I'm soooo jealous. I want one so bad!! I really hope they are doing the test when I go!!

 

[dgr1973]

Your mom is the crazy one cause isn't everyone's mom crazy? Lol just kidding! I really don't know what to think of these magic bands and like you just don't know enough about them yet. We never stay on Disney property so we won't get them anyways but I'm worried how they will effect us "peasants" that stay offsite?

 

[LMDisneygirl]

Oh, I can so relate to the planning stages! This will be our third year in a row going to WDW (the last trip was a gift from my parents though, since we all went at Christmas), we are a one income family, and I know people are probably thinking, "How in the world are they affording that?" As soon as we booked, I had buyer's remorse but I have never felt an ounce of guilt while we are there, so....

Ultimately, it's our money, we love WDW vacations and we saved very carefully for this trip.

Enjoy!!!! Hope the days fly by for you!!!

We are pretty much a one income family too, though I am also a Tupperware Lady and we supplement with that. We've gone for the past few years in a row as well, and I always feel like I have to explain to everyone how....."we go in August when the hotel rates go to value prices, and we stay at the Value resort, and we got free dining......" I wish I wouldn't do that. I don't ask anyone else to explain to me how they spend their money or justify their vacations. I'm with you though, once we go I'm all in for the fun!

As far as the days flying by. It's such a catch-22. On the one hand we are excited for our trip! On the other hand, school starts 2 days after we get back, and I REALLY like summer! So I don't want the time to rush by. My solution is to just enjoy every day that we have left this summer, and then be happy that the trip is here when it arrives!

 

[LMDisneygirl]

We normally go when you are going... This year we decided on a cruise instead... Cue sad music... Out of Port Canaveral which is like torture... But luckily I have an awesome husband who has decided that we can go to downtown Disney the day before we sail out (the day we land in Orlando)

Although I am excited I think it may end up only making it worse in the fact that we aren't going into a park and don't have a trip planned...

The lad week if August does usually see lighter crowds and is out favorite time to go. But this year DD will be a senior so next year we will have to find a different time to go as it will interfere with college..

I bet you'll have a great time on your cruise! I can understand your wondering if going only to DTD will be torture! My DS13 will be at Disney with his middle school band next Feb during President's Week. We decided it was a better plan to go to WDW in August this year instead of Feb. when it would be much more crowded and cost a bunch more. We are thinking of going to FL to stay with my mom during that week, and then go over to DTD on the day he is playing to see & hear him. My mom says she doesn't think we can do it without going into the park. I'm not sure we'd have any choice though. It's not cheap just to go in for one day!

Have a great cruise! And I'll dedicate a Mickey Bar on Main Street to you!