Did someone say Pineapple Float? A freshie TR writer's PRE-Trip Report Updated 7/14!

[foodrocksluver]

OK kids, so this is my first time writing any kind of trip report and I have to admit I’m kind of nervous. I mean, I’m a seasoned WDW traveler, don’t think I have any problems in that department. I just don’t know about how good I’ll be about writing down every single detail about what I do whilst on my trip ( I am camera happy; however, so I can guarantee you some sweet food porn!). I always try to write in a book after each night but usually I am so tired that I forget or have things that I feel would be better for me to do (like go shopping or walking around World Showcase). So hang in there with me and I’ll do the best I can!

Dates:
July 16th-July 25th

Accommodations:
4 nights at Beach Club Villas (I LOVE the BCV because it’s so close to EPCOT…and because The Little Mermaid is on the bed spread!).

And now the part you have all been on the edge of your seats eating popcorn like our favorite smiley….The Cast:

Myself (Kate)- I’m 20 and have been to WDW upwards of 25 times and have been to Disneyland once when I was about 2 so I don’t know if that even counts. I miss everything that Disney used to be, as in I miss all the vintage aspects of WDW. I grew up going to River Country and believing that the subs on 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea actually went ALL the way under the water. I remember my first time meeting the Dreamfinder and Figment and always having a hard time deciding which ending to choose on Horizons. I miss River Country and Cranium Command more than anything though. Ariel is my favorite Princess and I am secretly in love with Peter Pan (I guess that’s not much of a secret anymore!).

Mom- My mom took my sisters to WDW when it first opened so I can sometimes find some neat things from that trip she took (yesterday she found an old parking pass). But I don’t think she ever really got into it until she went with my father. Mom loves to trade pins and finding the Hidden Mickey ones has been her current battle. The Animal Kingdom is her favorite park and she always ends up booking it to rope drop on AK mornings no matter how tired she is. Watching her watch the animals is always a beautiful thing!

Dad- Probably the biggest kid you could ever meet. His claim-to-fame is his all-Disney watch collection (he has upwards of 300). He also loves Woody (NOT Buzz!) and recently bought a HUGE Woody doll off e-bay. My dad is the best person to ride the Tower of Terror with because no matter what anyone else is doing, you can always count on him to have his hands in the air screaming right next to me.

So there we are in a nutshell. Some other things you should know are that we have been DVC members since ’94 and drive to WDW from Baltimore, MD which is a 2-day adventure.

 

[foodrocksluver]

So I live in an OCD Disney family and we already have our itinerary all planned and ready to go. We have multiple reservations everyday because we are not doing the dining plan and we can never ever decide where to eat. Side note: I’m sure some of you are thinking…why on earth would she not be doing the dining plan?? Well we have been doing the dining plan for the past few trips we have taken and, while it’s a great value, it’s simply TOO much for us to eat. By the end of our trip we weren’t enjoying eating anymore which is no bueno because I LOVE to eat!

Anyway… Here’s what we have planned:

Wednesday July 16th-
Tutto Italia sometime in the evening. We won’t get to BCV until late afternoon and my dad and I have a plan to get on ToT at night when it’s extra creepy!

Thursday July 17th-
Le Cellier for lunch
Le Chefs de France for dinner
Or
50’s Prime Time for early dinner

Friday July 18th-
EPCOT UnDiscovered Future World Tour @9am
Coral Reef for lunch
Or
San Angel Inn for lunch

Saturday July 19th –
Le Cellier for lunch
Or
Plaza for lunch

Sunday July 20th –
Le Cellier (again!!) for dinner
Or
Plaza for dinner

Monday July 21st –
Le Chefs de France for lunch
Or
Marakeesh for lunch

Tuesday July 22nd –
Sci-Fi Dine –In Theater for lunch
(I made the Sci-Fi stand alone because I HAVE to eat there. I am in LOVE with their BLT soup mmmmm….)
Wednesday July 23rd -
Crystal Palace for dinner
Or
Plaza for lunch

Thursday July 24th –
Olivia’s for lunch

Friday July 25th –
Kona Café for breakfast

 

[foodrocksluver]

So there are 26 days before we leave for our semi-annual trip to visit the Mouse. I really don’t have much to report on the goings-on for the trip since we do have all our reservations in order. We are; however, stocking up on the essentials that we tend to need replenished for the trip (band-aids, toothpaste, vitamins, and for me Bodyglide !!). That’s about as exciting as it’s been around here.

Except I am very much looking forward to this trip since on of my former co-workers and friend is going to be in the World part of the time we will be. She is going with her whole family and her boyfriend (whom also worked with us) who has never been. I told them that I could be their tour guide one day so I am hoping that they take me up on that offer.

It is about time for me to be going to work. So if there’s anyone out there (Pete! That means you! ) please respond and let me know that I’m not writing this for nothing!

 

[Disneymusicgirl]

I'm in! We have a lot in common, actually, it's almost spooky! I live about 20 min away from Baltimore, I'll be 20 in August, I've been to WDW a ridiculous amount of times (I've lost count lol) we're also DVC members (home resort is BCV, actually!), we always drive down to WDW (it's definitely a LONG trip!), The Little Mermaid is one of my fave disney movies, and I also might be secretly in love with Peter Pan lol. Looking forward to hearing more about your trip!

 

[Disneymusicgirl]

Oh, and I forgot to add...love your username! I miss food rocks

 

[jake&samsmom]

Hi Kate!

(I would have posted here sooner, but we just got back from Vegas and are still recuperating!)

I'm so glad you started your PTR I think you are so lucky to have Disney-cool parents. Keep the updates and photos coming!

P.S. Do you have a close-up photo of the Little Mermaid on the BCV bedspread? I've never stayed there, so if you could possibly share it here that would be awesome!

 

[cjhinch]

I will be reading your PTR! I am so jealous of you DVC members! That is my goal in life (well maybe not THE goal, but A goal!) Sounds like you have some awesome meals planned!!

Your family is so cute!!

 

[foodrocksluver]

Oh goodness I feel so full of because I have a welcoming comittee now!

Disneymusicgirl-WOW! We could be twins! I don't actuall live in the city but I live in Bowleys Quarters which is close to Middle River in Baltimore County. I also work at the Perry Hall Outback Steakhouse so you could come visit me one day and we could have a mini-Dis meet right then and there .

jake&samsmom-I am so flattered that you are here. I had such a wonderful time reading your TR! Vegas huh? I'm sure that was quite an adventure! I am very lucky to have Disney-crazy parents. I blame them for my crazyness since they have been taking me to WDW since I was the tender age of 3.
I have atually only stayed at the BCV once a few years ago when I went down with my niece (who's OLDER than me ) and we didn't take any photos in the room. But now I will have to take some just for you!
P.S. I am still so bummed that we will be missing each other by mere days

cjhinch-I am even sometimes jealous of our DVC memberships. I sometimes wake up in our cozy OKW 1-bedroom and think, "How on earth was I so lucky to have parents who would own a piece of magic?". I hope you are able to buy soon. Maybe you could get in on the new ones they are buliding at the CR or the AKL (I know my mom has her eye on those. I think she wants to own there really badly).
Oh, and thank you for saying that we are cute!


I want to try and put up a few of my favorite pictures from trips past but I have a busy day today so I'll get on it as soon as I can.

 

[foodrocksluver]

Here are some of those pictures I promised you. They are some of my favorite ones from our most recent trips:

My mother and I at the AKL after having dinner at Jiko:

I used to be so scared of this ant when I was little. When I got on it this time it seemed as though he had shrunk but really I had just grown...a lot:

Pretending to be Emile (who I just love):

This was my first time riding the Haunted Mansion after it got a facelift. I was SO excited:

I really like posing for pictures whilst my mother plays at the Kidcot stop:

And my all time favorite picture that makes my cry each and every time I look at it:

 

[klofan]

I have read this report many times. And its perfect. No one can write a better pre-trip report than you Kate. For everyone out there reading, Kate is fabulous. She knows everything Disney, past, present, and future. But enough of that - I'm so jealous that your going and I'm not. I have to be in NJ with all the pollution, and your going to breathe the freshest oxygen known to man, Florida air. But anyway, to make a long story short, I can't wait for you to go on this trip because the sooner you go, the sooner your TR will becoming pouring with words and phrases like fabby, no bueno, and whilst. So get going Kate! I need a TR to read.

Pete

 

[RachelNinja]

I'm definitely in! You're doing a great job, no worries! You'll get your readers even if the majority of them are just lurkers. Keep posting those pics! Haha, I'm looking forward to all the food porn pictures.

It seems like you have a great relationship with your parents. It's so magical to share Disney with people who also love Disney, particularly when it's your family! Is there any chance you can take a pic of your mom's pins or your dad's watches? It'd be so cool to see 300 watches!

 

[RachelNinja]

BTW, I was initially drawn in with your title. Haha, can't wait for some pineapple float adventures!

 

[foodrocksluver]

Pete- I simply adore you! That was the sweetest thing EVER!! I am still muy muy sad that you are not going to be there whilst I am but I shall be thinking of you every moment!!

RachelNinja- Oh man am I a huge sucker for a great big Pineapple Float. I sometimes dream of them and hope that when I wake up I am close to Aloha Isle. But that never really would come true (unless perhaps I spent the night in one of the room in the Swiss Family Treehouse, but that would be an adventue in and of itself!).
I can take some pictures of my parents' prized posessions.
My dad keeps a lot of his watches in different places. He had bought a bookcase to house them but then it got full and they are floating here and there.
My mom is another story. There are bags of pins here and bags of pins there. But she does keep her faves in a pin book as do I.

 

[jake&samsmom]

Kate - your picture on top of that ant is too cute for words! I wish we could do a Dis meet {sigh} but there's always the next time

I'll be waiting for your next update! I too am intrigued as to how a gazillion pins and a few hundred Disney watches look like

Oh, and thanks (in advance) for the BCV bedspread photo. I love all the Disney Princesses, but Ariel will always be #1 in my heart!

Note for Pete: A few months ago, I read through your entire TR in one sitting (but couldn't post as it was already closed) and was laughing so hard when your friend innocently used his CR KTTW card in the arcade thinking it was free! I thought that was so hilarious!

 

[klofan]

Pete- I simply adore you! That was the sweetest thing EVER!! I am still muy muy sad that you are not going to be there whilst I am but I shall be thinking of you every moment!!

Thanks! So, we're not in a fight anymore, correct?

Note for Pete: A few months ago, I read through your entire TR in one sitting (but couldn't post as it was already closed) and was laughing so hard when your friend innocently used his CR KTTW card in the arcade thinking it was free! I thought that was so hilarious!

Thanks for reading. That's funny because I was actually with my friend last week and we were just making fun of him for that, haha.

 

[foodrocksluver]

Oh Pete, I could never fight with you for more than a minute!

jake&samsmom-I almost peed my panties when I read that in Pete's TR. And also the part about how Juan would snore very loudly because my father is like that. I want to shoot myself when we all have to sleep in the same room on vacation because I can NEVER sleep.

 

[Glendamax]

I'm late!!!! But I'm here!!!!

 

[Disneymusicgirl]

Oh goodness I feel so full of because I have a welcoming comittee now!

Disneymusicgirl-WOW! We could be twins! I don't actuall live in the city but I live in Bowleys Quarters which is close to Middle River in Baltimore County. I also work at the Perry Hall Outback Steakhouse so you could come visit me one day and we could have a mini-Dis meet right then and there .

No way! I live in Ellicott City which is right next to Columbia, but during the school year I live in Towson, only about 15 min away from Perry Hall! A mini-dis meet in the future is a definite possibility!

Love the pictures! I love that you take fun/goofy pictures...that's one of my fave things to do in Disney!

 

[foodrocksluver]

I'm late!!!! But I'm here!!!!

Yay! It woudn't have been the same without you

No way! I live in Ellicott City which is right next to Columbia, but during the school year I live in Towson, only about 15 min away from Perry Hall! A mini-dis meet in the future is a definite possibility!

Love the pictures! I love that you take fun/goofy pictures...that's one of my fave things to do in Disney!

I try and take funny pictures as much as I can, which warrents many eye rolls from my parents when I ask them to take them for me.
During the school year you live in Towson,so does that mean you go to TU like I do?
Whenever you want to meet up feel free to PM me!

 

[foodrocksluver]

My mother has made MORE dining reservations. As if it wasn't going to be hard as it is to pick a place to eat, why not add some more?
She did make a nice breakfast reservation at Trails End Buffeteria the first day we are there. Which will pull on my heartstrings as I will be so close but yet so far from my dear beloved River Country. I hope I can convince them to take the boat over from the MK so I can snap some fresh pictures and have people look at me and think, "She is CLEARLY nuts! What on EARTH is she taking a picture of that would make her cry like that? ". To which I would say, "I am taking pictures of my childhood you loon!! "

Which leads me to what I shall inform you of next. I have recurring River Country dreams. And they are not always good. In fact, they are downright creepy at times.
I don't know if you are all aware of what it looks like now so I shall give you a sampling of pictures I was able to take:

From far away you may say, Hmm, that's not SO bad

Then we get closer...

See what I mean. These are from a website that shows the inside (someone must have been sneaky and snuck in...I want to do that!)

I just did a search for the site and when it loaded I literally got chills. Creeeeppppyyy

Holy mama jama!

So sometimes in my dreams I am trapped in there with it looking like that.

So needless to say when I get anywhere close to it I get excited and nervous at the same time. But one thing is for sure: I will never stop loving it and hoping and praying that ONE day, it shall be back open for more children to love. I know that I personally left a bit of my childhood there.

OK enough of that sappy/creepy/odd stuff.

I am trying to make "Bring Back Buzzy" T-Shirts to wear to EPCOT on our Unsiscovered Future World tour. Because how cool would it be for our guide to see my little shirt with little Buzzy on it and say, "Bring back Buzzy, you say? Well, it just so happens that the movie is still intact, would you like to see it?" To which I would say, "Heck yeah I do!!".

A girl can only dream.

So right now I have...iron on transfers. And THIS picture in mind for the back:

And THIS one for the front (like where a pocket would be):

So now I am going to run up to Wal-Mart and see if they have a nice little shirt I can use.