D' Family Does Disney 2008

[pmama]

POST 1


Hello, I've recently discovered disboards and am so thrilled that there are so many Disney fanatics like myself! I was beginning to think there was something wrong w/ me. Our family will be returning to Disney for our 2nd family vacation w/ free dining!

Cast of Characters:

Me, (30 yr old female mother of two)
DH, (30)
Hope, (7 yr)
Faith, (4 yr in 2 wks)






We did Disney World for the first time w/ kids October 2007. We went during my 7 year old's birthday. I actually had been putting off my husband who has been wanting to go since they were babies. I'm glad I didn't wait any longer. It was amazing. Much more so as a parent! Thus our return this September for 10 nights.

I've obsessively scheduled our itinerary down to every ride, show, and meal. I'll post that soon.


Since I am fairly new to this, pictures will be posted as soon as I can figure that out. Would appreciate any suggestions.


I found the Pop Century Thread which was great help. I really think I'd prefer a lakeside room even though they are further. Does anyone have suggestions? We did not pay for a preferred room. Is lakeside worth being further?

 

[bcbmom]

Looking forward to reading more. I finally figured out the pics on my pretrip last night, it took time but was actually quite easy, lol. I am so new to this. I know which parks (well for the most part) and we have dinner reservations....but I am no where near knowing which rides to hit first etc. So like I said i'm looking forward to hearing more & hopefully getting some ideas & hints.

 

[pmama]

Our family of 4 w/ 2 girls ages 7 and 4 are traveling to WDW for 10 nights and our second trip in 2 years!!! Free Dining!!!!!!!!! Pop Century!

My goal this time is to not overdue ourselves and be rested. I'd like the girls to get at least 10 hours of sleep each night. We tried the whole "going back to resort for a nap" thing last year and found it time consuming and not very resting. We'd rather get a good's night sleep and take it easy. We do have a couple nap days planned because of EMH and MNSSHP. So please let me know what you think. Have I still scheduled too much? Do you have any suggestions?


September 2008

Day 1: Arrive MCO 2:40 p.m.
Check in Pop Century
7:15 Hoop de Doo Musical Review


Day 2: Epcot
allow girls to sleep at least 10 hours
arrive 10:45 p.m.
FP Soarin
11-2:30 World Showcase (eat lunch somewhere in WS)
3-4:20 Seas w/ Nemo + Turtle Talk + Soarin if time
4:50 Res. @ Coral Reef
6:30-7 Spaceship Earth
7-8 World Showcase
8 grab snack, drinks and sit,wait for Illuminations


Day 3: AK
(allow girls to sleep min. 10 hours)
arrive 11:30 FP Safari
Lion King
Pocohantas
Flights of Wonder
FP Kali
Safari
Pangani
Lunch Yak and Yeti CS
Kali
It's tough to be a bug (if time)
Primevil Whirl (if time)

Probably back to Pop Century to stay @ hotel and swim, get to bed early. I do have Boma reservations for 5:55p.m. But am considering canceling simply because it is important to me that we rest.

Day 4: Epcot

Arrive @ 8:30 a.m.
FP Mission Space
Test Track
Universe of Energy
Spaceship Earth
Cranium Command
Jouney Into Imag. + Honey I shrunk kids (if time before lunch res.)
1:00 Akersus
2:30-4:30 World Showcase
Mission Space + innovations on way out


Day 5: MK
Arrive @8:30
Dumbo
Winnie
Peter Pan
Cind. Carousol
Speedway
Astro Obiter
Buzz Lightyear
FP Space Mountain
12:30 leave park
lunch CS Pop Century
nap 1:30-3:15
4:00 bus to MK for EMH!
5:15 TS @ Liberty Tree
6:30 barnstormer
tour Toontown
seat for Wishes fireworks (in Toontown)
8:30 Space Mtn
Small World
Mickey's Philharmagic
Haunted Mansion
try to leave by 11:00 p.m.

Day 6:MK

swim (anyone up by 10a.m. can swim)
11:30 leave for MK
FP Jungle Cruise
1:00 Crystal Palace
FP Pirate
Parade in front of Splash Mtn
Splash MTn
Jungle Cruise
Pirates of the Car.
Tiki Room
Country Bear
Swiss Family Tree House
CS food to go (any suggestions)
eat on railway and wait for Spectromagic 8:00
jet out!

Day 7: Typhoon Lagoon
(no specific itinerary yet)
DTD in evening w/ CS dinner


Day 8:CS lunch @ Pop Century (we dislike CS meal at parks because of crowds/heat and try to avoid them if possible)
leave for Hollywood Studios
12:00 FP Star Tours
Indiana Jones
Playhouse Disney
FP Tower of Terror (prob. just me or switch off)
Backlot Tour
Honey I Shrunk the Kids playgound
Mama's Melrose 4:10 (fantasmic pkg)
Toy Story
Great Movie Ride
Tower of Terror
Fantasmic


Day 9:OPEN!!!!!!!!! to go wherever please but must have an easy going day.
I do have res. @ O'hana for 10:50a.m. character breakfast. If we do not go to Boma on AK day this will be available


Day 10: MK
9:00 a.m. Cinderella's Royal Table
stay in park until 11 a.m.
11 head back to hotel for lunch and nap
4-12 a.m. MNSSHP (not that we would stay until midnight but you never know) No itinerary for this day. We will hit what we haven't and our favorites.


Day 11: returning flight 2:30 p.m.
Magic Express will probably pick us up at around 11:30
If we are up late night before we'll probably spend this morning sleeping.


My one problem and dilemma w/ this itinerary is the AK day. I really felt that I didn't get enough time at AK last year (our first visit) and we spent the whole day there. In fact I had my one and only huge melt down at AK when we missed the last showing of Lion King by seconds. (Therefore Lion King is first on my list this year). We did see Nemo so I don't feel we need to do that this year. We did not see flights of wonder so would like to see that. We will not do Everest or Dinosaur as our children are too little and too scared. I'm concerned w/ us arriving in afternoon that we will not have enough time here. I really like this park unlike others. I wish I could show up at opening. The only day I can figure to change it would be to swap day 2 and 3. However, I'd have to try to get Akersus res. then and I'm sure by now w/ free dining that it may not be possible. Also, then I would not get an opening time @ Epcot. My hubby is not real into AK so he will not agree to going there on our open day. I look forward to any feedback.:grouphug

 

[pmama]

 

[pmama]

 

[pmama]

Just when I think I have it down I think I may want to change something. Maybe it's an addiction. I secretly don't want to be done w/ my itinerary.
I've come up w/ a second itinerary that I am leaning towards. It puts me at the parks for opening more often.


Day 2 - Epcot but don't stay for illuminations (plus I've arranged for a diver at Coral Reef!)

Day 3 - AK @ opening!

Day 4 - MK @ opening! (Crystal Palace)

Day 5 - EP @ opening! (Akersus) maybe nap mid-day and go back for illum.

Day 6 - MK after character breakfast @ Ohana, stay for Spec. + Wishes

Day 7 - Typhoon Lagoon

Day 8 - Hollywood Studios (Mama's Melrose) Fantasmic

Day 9 - open for any park (1900 Park Fare or 50 Prime Time or Liberty Tree)

Day 10 - Cinderella's Castle breakfast
MNSSHP

so if I do stick w/ the new schedule I'll have to go back and redo some rides on the itinerary. Oh well, I love planning

 

[earthfaries]

Hi Your trips sounds wonderful! You did a great job with the iteneraries.
Going over and changing your schedule over and over and over again is perfectly normal. I think it does have to do with us not wanting to be done with planning, and wanting it to be absolutely perfect

It's so hard to balance rest and doing the parks, you usually don't get both

Have you eaten at Boma before? If not, don't cancel!!! It is our fave place, we're eating there twice on our trip in Sept. It's so good

I can't wait to hear more about your trip, I love ptr and tr's

I am going to start mine today possibly...I need help planning!

 

[pmama]

So, I came up w/ this great idea to help count down the days. My husband is even more into counting down the days until our trip than I am. Well, in the 1st week of June we'll hit 100 days. So, I've been buying little gifts for each person in the family when I am out. I found cute Mickey gift bags at Walmart. As a surprise I filled each person's bag and put the gifts on top of the fridge for everyone to get excited about. I told them they could open them when we hit 100 days as we will have a little party that day. Maybe make Mickey pancakes or cupcakes. I've been buying the girls inexpensive summer clothes w/ Disney characters, princesses on them. I also got myself a shirt w/ Minnie. Haven't found any clothes yet for hubby but did find a neat Mickey bag that we can take and he will like. So, we are all very excited for 100 days when we can open the presents and move into double digits!!

 

[pmama]

I've just recently found out that you can get family photo sessions at Grand Floridian or Poly for only $25 if you prebuy the photo CD! I am sooo going to do this. I've looked at some other family pictures on that thread and think the background at the Poly is gorgeous. I was excited when I filled in DH about my newest find but he was less than thrilled. He said he didn't really want to waist good vacation time having a photo shoot. I explained it was typically only 20 minutes and that we could do it while we are at one of the locations dining.

Sooo, I'm just trying to decide when the best time to schedule it would be. I know some people try to schedule for a time when there is not bad sun glare. I mainly wan't to schedule a time that will most convenient w/ our schedule. We have res. for Ohana breakfast on a morning that we are going to MK. However, MK is my husband's favorite park and I know I will bring out Mr. Grumpy if we end up having to wait around for the photo shoot and miss precious MK time. I also have Ohana res. for our 3rd to last day incase we miss the first res. That might be a good time as we have no plans yet. But, what if we decide we don't want to venture the MK? Also, a good time might be after or breakfast at Cinderella's Royal Table on our second to last day. Basically, I have to decide but I have plenty of time as I heard they do not take res. for photo shoot until 30 days out.

Also, I can not make up my mind on the stroller situation. We rented a double stroller at the parks last year and absolutely loved it! The girls we 7 and 4 then. We loved to plop them in there and plow through the crowds not worrying where they were in the crowd or having to clutch their hands. There were a few times that we forced our 7 year old in just because it made it so much easier for us. Please don't think I'm a bad parent. She was allowed to walk at less crowded times and most of the time she preferred to ride. Anywhoo, I refuse to pay the new stroller prices. They are as much as a rental car. We do not use strollers for either of the girls at home. The sit and stands are about $120 at Target and look nice but my husband does not want to lug something that big on and off the buses ( and I don't blame him.) Thought about a buggy board w/ an umbrella stroller but sounds too complicated and not very relaxing for older one. I've also found Maclaren Volo double strollers that fold nicely and each seat can hold up to 55 pounds! My oldest is about 50 pounds now and youngest is 35 pounds. I've found a few on ebay or Craigslist but still unsure on that. I think now I am leaning toward buying a new sturdy umbrella stroller that holds up to 55 pounds for my oldest $100 at Target and a cheapy $20 umbrella stroller for my 4 year old. Still, not as good option as the rental stroller. But, even just 9 days renting a stroller would be over $300.

So, two more things to contemplate anyway. I'll let you know what I decide.

 

[bcbmom]

I'm glad i'm not the only one redoing my itinerary
It's so hard not to when you keep getting so much advice/suggestions!
The family photo shoot sounds great. My dh is lucky our flights are booked or I would be definately be adding more days to our trip. There is just so many things I would love to do but don't have the time for everything. Hopefully i'll be lucky enough to plan another trip in the future
Not sure about the stroller situation as we are passed that but i'm sure you'll figure it out. Looking forward to more

 

[pmama]

O.K. I've spent the last two months since booking mostly getting more info and ideas. Yes, I have planned the itinerary more times than I care to admit but now it's time to get down and dirty and actually make a list of to do's that need to get done. No more daydreaming lets get to work.

To Do's:

Actually upload pictures onto my pretrip
finish homemade photopasses making for girls
make MNSSHP outfits
make Minnie outfits
make 30 day countdown calendar
make + laminate card for each day w/ ADRs, itinerary, and important
information


Misc. things to purchase:
zip lock storage bags
caribeaners for water bottles
glow necklaces
outfits for photo shoot
disposable ponchos
cheap trash bags
cushy sandles for me
spray fans
snacks
princess dress for each girl
items to make Minnie dresses for girls (or just buy Minnie dresses)
items to make surprise MNSSHP outfits for family
cheap shoe hanger for organization
ear plugs
pre-order photo pass
maybe preorder TL tickets to save $
45 days out pay rest of trip off
order Disney Rewards Card


order water from Costco
schedule photo shoot 30 days out
pack each days clothes in Sep. bag for girls
pack laundry deterg. and quarters. Lots of quarters and for penny press too

I'll make a more extensive packing list later.

 

[pmama]

I think this is the final itinerary. At least I hope. It really has to be because it's virtually impossible to get any different ADRs at this point. I kept crowd levels and getting to the park early in mind. Only major difference with this itinerary is our 2nd MK day was switched w/ TL. Before I had us going to MK on a Monday which is not recommended. So we've switched that w/ TL. All looks good. We'll see how well it actually pans out.


W arrive Hoop de Doo
R Epcot 11-4:30 World Showcase dinner Coral Reef
F AK maybe Boma
S MK 9-5 (parade)
S Epcot lunch at Akershus, stay for Illum.
M TL
T MK LTT for dinner
W HS (Mama’s Melrose) Fantasmic pkg
R open Ohana breakfast then photoshoot
F Cinderella’s Royal Table MK 9-12 nap/swim 1-5 mnsshp 6-12
S Swim and Catch Flight

 

[bcbmom]

Everything looks wonderful! I'm also debating trying to get Boma. I've heard such wonderful things about it but we already have a lunch adr at Yak & Yeti that we want to try too! Decisions, Decisions
We have mama melrose too but weren't early enough to get the Fantasmic package. I'm not sure if there is a chance of cancellations on the package . We are debating the mnsshp still too! It's our first trip and we already have 8 really busy days not including our flight days. Everytime I talk myself out of it I read how some people absolutely love it.
Glad to see everything is working out!!