Be surrounded by the magic 24/7? Yes Please!!(Updated 9/9: 9 Days Left!)

[JoShan1719]

It's another early day for us as we prepare to enter... Animal Kingdom! This will be John's very first time at AK, so I'm planning on doing EVERYTHING. It's going to be a busy day for us.

We'll be sure to make rope drop so we can catch the opening show. I find it to be a little weak, but I also figure that with animals and lack of space they do the best with what they've got.​

We'll take our time making our way through the Oasis and Discovery Island Trails on our way to Kilimanjaro Safaris, then we'll do the Pangani Forest Expedition Trails. After that we're going to jump on the Wildlife Express Train and head over to Rafiki's Planet Watch. I've never done this before, and though I hear mixed reviews I think I'll give it a shot and make my own decision. I think the all the attractions at WDW should be given a chance. Except Stitch at MK, I'm going to take everyone's word and skip that one.

When we get back from Rafiki's Planet Watch we're going to see the Flights of Wonder show. This will be another first for me, but I've heard it's worth it. From there it's the Maharajah Jungle Trek, followed by Expedition Everest! I love this ride, though I'm sad I never got to see the fully functioning Yeti.

After EE we'll head towards Dinoland, stopping to see the Nemo show on the way. We'll catch a quick ride on Dinosaur, then grab something to eat at Restaurantosaurus.

Once we've finished eating we'll head all the way to Camp Minnie-Mickey to see Festival of the Lion King. Then it's off to Downtown Disney to do some shopping, followed by dinner at Earl of Sandwich. If time allows we may head over to the TTC and catch Wishes. Then it's off to bed, sadly. Tomorrow we'll have to get up, pack our bags, and go home

 

[JoShan1719]

Friday will be a very sad day indeed...time to go home

We'll be up early to get our things packed and loaded in the car. We may walk around and take a few pictures, visit the gift shop one more time, then check out. We're having lunch at Planet Hollywood, and if we have any DDP credits left we'll head over to Earl of Sandwich to get some food for the road. Then... it'll be time to leave... I'm usually pretty good when it comes time to leave. I'm actually ok with it. It takes about 4-6 weeks for me to start missing it and I wonder if it's just a defense mechanism I have lol. Since I know I won't be back for a year I fool myself into thinking I don't care? I don't know.

This year won't be so bad because I know I'll be back in just a few short months... we're moving to Orlando! As I mentioned in my first post, John is originally from that area (Casselberry) so for him it will be like going home. Though I'm originally from South Florida, all my siblings and my mom are in the Central Florida area, with one brother in Orlando, the other brother in Winter Park, and my mom and sister in Titusville. So moving there almost makes more sense than for me to stay in South Florida. But I'll talk more about that in another post.

So those are the plans for our September 2011 trip. I'm anxious to so which plans we stick with, and which ones we veer away from. The only things that are really set in stone are which parks we're visiting on which day, and our table service restaurants. The rest is up in the air!

 

[TanzUnited99]

Loving your plans! Yay on spending some time at Pop - we are doing the same and are also eating at Chefs de France and 50s PTC.

Have also read great reviews of LTT as well so am sure you will enjoy it here. Love your Mickey sneakers btw - will have to look out for them on our trip.

We are on the DDP - did debate upgrading to Deluxe but decided not to. How cool that you will be moving to Orlando!

 

[JoShan1719]

Loving your plans! Yay on spending some time at Pop - we are doing the same and are also eating at Chefs de France and 50s PTC.

Have also read great reviews of LTT as well so am sure you will enjoy it here. Love your Mickey sneakers btw - will have to look out for them on our trip.

We are on the DDP - did debate upgrading to Deluxe but decided not to. How cool that you will be moving to Orlando!

I really enjoyed Chefs de France! I had the lobster bisque and the fancy ham and cheese sandwich thingy and it was delicious. Really pricey for a sandwich, but it was worth it to me! 50's is becoming a tradition, it's so fun.

I keep trying to find more shoes but it's difficult to find them in my size that don't cost an arm and a leg. I keep scouring the internet, but haven't had any luck... yet

I considered going deluxe too, but decided it was just too much food and too much time away from the rides and shows. Plus I like the quick service places.

 

[JoShan1719]

My Disney bible, that is. It has all the information I could possibly need. Hotel information, menus, phone numbers, everything. I bring it with me on every trip, though it stays in the hotel because it's so big. I bring my passporter to the parks with me. So here are some pictures...

I used to have a nice Disney picture collage on the cover, but they started tearing so I took them off.

The first page is a storage pocket holding our hotel information.

The second page is the table of contents

In the Schedule section I have daily itineraries set up starting from the moment we wake up on check in day, to the moment we get home.

In the dining section I have all of our confirmation numbers written down with the restaurant names, locations, and times, as well as menus for each venue (including the food court at our resort and any counter service locations we may stop at in the parks).

This section lists any special tips I've picked up the last couple years, such as best parade/firework viewing locations, hidden Mickey locations, trivia about the attractions, etc.

This is where I keep general information; what time restaurants open, when the buses start running, phone numbers, and the like.

Obviously, this is where I keep all of our budgeting info.

Ha ha, get it? Check lists? I have packing list, Must-Do/Might-Do/Won't-Do Lists, the works

In the park sections I have lists of all the attractions, ride lengths, show times, parade times, restaurants, and additional copies of the daily itineraries.

Here I list all the restaurants and shops, I have a few menus for the places we'll be dining at, not much.

This section contains any and all information pertaining to our hotel. Room types, address and phone number, maps.

The last section, I have maps for everything in here. Maps for each of the parks, DTD, the hotel (again), directions from our house to the hotel, and a general map of the entire Disney property.

Well, that's it. I'm always adding, subtracting and changing things in it, but it has been a huge help in two ways: 1. I don't have to worry about finding information, I pretty much have everything in there, and 2. It gives me something to do between trips Stay tuned, I'll be posting more pictures in the next few weeks as I've gotten more things off of Ebay including another pair of Mickey shoes!

 

[Disneychix]

I love the shirts you got on Ebay! Are they both kids? I don't recall seeing that Mickey Tank in the stores ever. Cute!

I got a cute shirt from the Disney Store online, it's Woody and says "I Love Cowboys". Just a suggestion b/c you said you don't like Tink/Princesses.

That picture of those armbands cracks me up- It's just hands and no arms and I think that's really funny for an ad selling armbands!
I have something similar to those except they are heaters-for cold winters up North!

 

[TanzUnited99]

Love the binder! Have just finished making mine. I totally understand that it will be remaining in the hotel room as it will be too big to carry around but I'm still looking forward to having it on me and all the information to hand!

 

[JoShan1719]

I love the shirts you got on Ebay! Are they both kids? I don't recall seeing that Mickey Tank in the stores ever. Cute!

I got a cute shirt from the Disney Store online, it's Woody and says "I Love Cowboys". Just a suggestion b/c you said you don't like Tink/Princesses.

That picture of those armbands cracks me up- It's just hands and no arms and I think that's really funny for an ad selling armbands!
I have something similar to those except they are heaters-for cold winters up North!

Hi there! I believe they're both juniors? The black one is from many years ago, it still says "MGM" on it

Love the binder! Have just finished making mine. I totally understand that it will be remaining in the hotel room as it will be too big to carry around but I'm still looking forward to having it on me and all the information to hand!

Yours looks really nice! I love all the pages you got from the DISigns board!

 

[JoShan1719]

That picture of those armbands cracks me up- It's just hands and no arms and I think that's really funny for an ad selling armbands!

Hey, we all need an extra pair of hands at times
I know, that was lame, but it's the middle of the night and I'm bored silly!

 

[JoShan1719]

So, as promised, I took pictures of the new things I got from Ebay, plus a couple other things. Enjoy!

These are the shoes I bought at Downtown Disney back in March. They're very comfortable, so I'm looking forward to using them in the parks

These are shoes I've been seeing all over Ebay, but couldn't find in my size. Then one day, poof! Luckily the seller had the "Make an offer" option. I offered, s/he accepted, and now they're mine

This is the shirt I'm going to wear to the Magic Kingdom. On the front (on either side of the picture) it says "Pillaging since 1796" and the back says "Pirates of the Caribbean"

The description for this on Ebay called it a nightie, but it looked to me like it could pass for a dress, maybe with a tank top underneath. I haven't been able to test this theory yet, as I just got this today and was checking the mail as I was leaving for work. But as soon as I get home I'm going to try it on. It looks a little big, even though the tag says small. I guess we'll wait and see!

This is the cover of the trip journal I made. Well, "made" is very loose. I printed the pages off and put them in this little folder. I can't remember where the pages came from, so I can't give credit, but I can say they are not mine! I did not make them, I'm only using them!

The front page. It lists all of the hotel information, etc. in pretty Disney font.

The second page lists all of our ADRs; locations, times, confirmation #s, the works.

The rest of the pages are the actual journal pages to record the day's happenings. They each have a different set of characters on them.

And just for fun, the envelope our personalized maps came in!

I never use these in the parks, and they generally never change from year to year, but I order them anyway since they're free.


Well, that's it for now. I will be ordering more things in the coming weeks, which mean more pictures for you, so stay tuned!

 

[TanzUnited99]

Yay on getting some pixie dust and being able to order the shoes in your size!!

Love the tops and I have seen those pages before - think it may have been on mouseforless but I can't be sure Anyhow they'll be great to record your trip details in.

Lol on not using your personalised maps but still ordering them!

 

[JoShan1719]

New Restaurant​

I changed our lunch at Rose and Crown on our second Epcot day to dinner at the Garden Grill. After reading a few reviews and watching some youtube videos I decided this was one I wanted to try.

New Goal​

I also decided (yesterday!) that I would like to start training and run in the Disney Princess Half Marathon in February! This is a huge task for me. I am not what you'd call "active" so this will be a challenge. But after seeing videos (I seriously spend hours on youtube every night at work. Last week I spent six hours watching Flash Mob videos) of the event I can't help but want to be apart of it.

I started a blog to motivate myself (and keep myself accountable). If you have any tips, advice, support, questions, whatever, feel free to drop by! My Training Blog

 

[TanzUnited99]

Yay on changing your ressie to Garden Grill - having read lots of reviews of this restaurant it seems like a really good choice!

I love your new goal and good luck with the training. You are making me feel like looking into the Disney 5k for next year - we shall see if it happens

 

[JoShan1719]

As of Thursday, August 4th, we are officially going to Walt Disney World!! That means I paid off our balance and we should be getting Mickey Mail soon. I'm so excited!!!!

In honor of being that much closer to our trip, we picked up these guys at Home Depot today:

Now I can start making our door and window decorations for our room!! We decided to go with a Toy Story theme for the window. Well, John decided. I wanted to do Halloween decorations, but he couldn't wrap his head around that idea because it'll be September, not October. Since he hasn't had many requests during the planning of this trip I compromised and went with Toy Story. I'll be getting most of the decorations at Party City since everything is so cheap. I may try Ebay though (my new BFF) since I may be able to get bulk items that way.

Now the fun begins! I need to get my packing lists in order and start getting everything I can packed up so I don't forget it.

LET US COMMENCE WITH THE CELEBRATORY DANCING!
​

 

[Disneychix]

Yeah!!

Can't wait to see what you come up with for your window!

My mom and I are also running the Princess 1/2! 202 days!!

 

[TanzUnited99]

on paying off the trip!! I also can't wait to get our Mickey Mail!

Looking forward to seeing the finished window decorations

 

[JoShan1719]

​

I'm excited, can you tell? I got Mickey Mail!!

The envelope everything came in

Our cool luggage tags!

The booklet that contains our reservation information, plus the vouchers for our free round of mini golf, discount at Planet Hollywood, etc.

Getting Mickey Mail just made this whole trip feel so real and now I can barely contain my excitement.

​

I also just finished the signs we're putting on our room door!

I'm going to leave a marker out so fellow DISsers can leave their names our neat little messages for us.

Crossing out "vacation" and putting "adventure" was John's idea. He said vacations are where you sit by the pool or a beach for a week relaxing. Disney, he told me, is an adventure I wrote which days we'd be at which parks on the little mickey heads and added some more Toy Story stickers just to make it fun. I have a few more mickey heads and I'm going to pick some more up before our trip. Those will be going on our window. I also need to get some magnets for the posters because we can't use tape on the doors.

I also just won these shoes on Ebay:

I'm looking at one more pair that I really love and then I'll be done. Maybe. That's a very big maybe, I just can't stop buying things lol. I bought this guy a couple weeks ago:

because I had one just like it when I was little, autographs and all. I got it on my first or second trip to WDW. I couldn't pass it up.

Well, those are all the updates I have for now! I hope all your planning is going well. If you happen to spot our door while your out, leave a little note for us!

 

[teekathepony]

Ummm before I say anything else, those shoes are absolutely adorable!
I'm joining! You'll be at Pop the week before me, I check in on the 24th! Plans look great so far, I also love all the shopping. If I see your poster when we check in I'll sign it

 

[TanzUnited99]

Yay on getting Mickey Mail!!! Can't wait to get ours.

Love the room signs - will def be signing the door one if I see it. Also them shoes are adorable

 

[JoShan1719]

Ummm before I say anything else, those shoes are absolutely adorable!
I'm joining! You'll be at Pop the week before me, I check in on the 24th! Plans look great so far, I also love all the shopping. If I see your poster when we check in I'll sign it

Thanks for joining! It's too bad we'll miss each other.

Yay on getting Mickey Mail!!! Can't wait to get ours.

Love the room signs - will def be signing the door one if I see it. Also them shoes are adorable

Thanks Tanz. I was so excited I had to force myself to be patient and take the pictures lol.