Excited AND scared

[brettystar]

Just to quote some Sondheim in my title... but it kind of sums up how I am feeling at the moment.
It is only like 29 sleeps til Hubs and I hit WDW for the first time and whilst I am excited - I wonder if I have missed anything.
We have.....
Bought our ticket hoppers (incl one for Universal)
Booked our hotel (AKL-concierge floor)
Bought/Made our red shirts (for Gay Days)
Booked Fantasmic, Vic and Albert's (dinner), Boma (dinner), Jika (Breakfast), Cinderella's Castle (dinner), Fireworks Dessert package, Sunrise safari at AKL
Studied the unofficial guide to Disney world.
I am yet to work out our park itinerarys for each day.... but can anyone let me know if I have missed anything (not restaurant recommendations etc but anything else integral to a trip to WDW)?
Advice much appreciated.
Thanks!!
P.S I will have sunscreen, water and good shoes

 

[Waybuloo]

Wow, you sound ultra prepared

We're taking out first trip in November... taking our 4 year old for her and my first trip (wife has been before)

Have a great trip

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Brett, Jiko doesn't serve breakfast. Did you mean Boma breakfast and Jiko dinner?

You will love AKL! And we'll see you there!

PS - We love Sondheim. DS was the Baker in "Into the Woods" last year. We went to hear Sondheim speak in December - it was lovely.

 

[TagsMissy]

Want to know my secret --- don't over plan your day; that will only lead to disappointment or frustration if it doesn't go as planned. We've tried the keep to a schedule thing before, we didn't last very long lol

Go, enjoy yourself and don't forget to take the time to enjoy the moment; breathe it all in.

Your dining plans sound delicious; I am jealous you are going to V&As... that's on my one day list

Are you guys planning a trip to any of the water parks? When are you arriving? We're getting there early in the afternoon May 26th

 

[Nestguy]

Want to know my secret --- don't over plan your day; that will only lead to disappointment or frustration if it doesn't go as planned.

h

I totally agree! That would be the only advice I really would like to share with you guys: you've got a lot of cool things on your schedule, but make room for the umpredictable. Go with the flow, have an agenda but allow yourselves to forget about it one time or another.

I'm saying this based on my own experience. In 2009, I decided to celebrate my 40th birthday at WDW. Booked my favorite resort , got the dinning plan, spent days on the phone to get the adrs, made lots of plan and a huge agenda. It was fun, but a little bit tense, 'cause my partner couldn't make it after all. I was anxious about doing all the stuff i had planned to do and frustrated that i wasn't do them with my partner.

One year later, we had an expected ten days off work and decided, all of a sudden ,on a friday that we would spend these days at WDW and booked our trip to sunday. Yeah, we only had two days to make all the arrangements and we are from Brazil, remember! It turned out to be the most perfect vacation so far! We had a blast during the 10 days we were there, and we were off propertie, with no adrs. It helped that I already know the parks and resort well, but it was my partner first trip to the WDW and he still says that it was the best trip ever!

So, it's cool to have plans and stuff, but relax and enjoy. Research a lot, learn about your options and then do what you feel like doing. I'm sure you gonna love your trip, anyway

 

[firstcruise]

You forgot the most important thing of all...



HAVE FUN!

ps..agree with PP don't overplan each day. Just go with the flow and enjoy.

 

[Schotz]

Vic and Alberts! Yes the Grand Floridian has excellent food. You will need formal attire to dine there, no jeans or short sleeves or sneakers. I would have dinner at Vic and A, then drinks at Mizner's lounge just down the hall. They make perfect drinks there. If you don't drink it's a great hotel to just lounge around a bit and then hit up the monorail which is on the 2nd floor of the GF.

It's good to be prepared, if your that scared about going you might want to bring something to calm you down while on holiday.

 

[brettystar]

Wow, you sound ultra prepared

We're taking out first trip in November... taking our 4 year old for her and my first trip (wife has been before)

Have a great trip

Thanks Waybuloo - I hope you guys also love your first trip. I also love your avatar!!! Snow White is my all time favourite princess (we have a history) but I tend to idolise the queen these days as far as my Disney icons go

 

[brettystar]

Brett, Jiko doesn't serve breakfast. Did you mean Boma breakfast and Jiko dinner?

You will love AKL! And we'll see you there!

PS - We love Sondheim. DS was the Baker in "Into the Woods" last year. We went to hear Sondheim speak in December - it was lovely.

Haha most probably JSG - I booked it all a while back and don't have my itin at hand. Glad you love Sondheim. Musical theatre and Disney are two of my great loves.

Yes, it was YOUR enthusiasm for AKL that cinched the deal for us. We can't wait

 

[brettystar]

Want to know my secret --- don't over plan your day; that will only lead to disappointment or frustration if it doesn't go as planned. We've tried the keep to a schedule thing before, we didn't last very long lol

Go, enjoy yourself and don't forget to take the time to enjoy the moment; breathe it all in.

Your dining plans sound delicious; I am jealous you are going to V&As... that's on my one day list

Are you guys planning a trip to any of the water parks? When are you arriving? We're getting there early in the afternoon May 26th

Thanks TagsMissy. I am an Exec Assistant and always tend to be overorganised... it's just my natural way. Hubs is ALSO an EA so also loves to be organised. But you are right, always need to leave room for the spontaneous to occur. Each time I have done DL I have stuck to a plan (which always allows for free time for both rescheduling in need and to just sit back and watch the crowd pass by) and it has worked perfectly.

Not doing a water park - they look like fun but we only have six days in total including a day at Universal so something needed to give (also not doing EPCOT).

We arrive June 30 and leave for NY on June 5th (my birthday). Then back home to Oz on the 11th (also doing four days in NY before WDW). It is going to be the trip of a lifetime!!!!!

I have not

 

[brettystar]

I totally agree! That would be the only advice I really would like to share with you guys: you've got a lot of cool things on your schedule, but make room for the umpredictable. Go with the flow, have an agenda but allow yourselves to forget about it one time or another.

I'm saying this based on my own experience. In 2009, I decided to celebrate my 40th birthday at WDW. Booked my favorite resort , got the dinning plan, spent days on the phone to get the adrs, made lots of plan and a huge agenda. It was fun, but a little bit tense, 'cause my partner couldn't make it after all. I was anxious about doing all the stuff i had planned to do and frustrated that i wasn't do them with my partner.

One year later, we had an expected ten days off work and decided, all of a sudden ,on a friday that we would spend these days at WDW and booked our trip to sunday. Yeah, we only had two days to make all the arrangements and we are from Brazil, remember! It turned out to be the most perfect vacation so far! We had a blast during the 10 days we were there, and we were off propertie, with no adrs. It helped that I already know the parks and resort well, but it was my partner first trip to the WDW and he still says that it was the best trip ever!

So, it's cool to have plans and stuff, but relax and enjoy. Research a lot, learn about your options and then do what you feel like doing. I'm sure you gonna love your trip, anyway

Thanks a lot Nestguy. As mentioned to TagsMissy I am always organised - time management is a must for my job and now comes natural in my home life also. I agree completely with your advice though. That is one of the most stressful things with A. Planning a trip to WDW (as you need to plan so many things in advance to guarantee bookings) and B. Planning an overseas trip (as we are coming from Oz we need to book in our leave and ensure we have plenty of money saved for the time we need to come).
In order for us to do all the stuff we want to in the time we have we need to have a schedule. It will always include down time and time for free stuff, but for instance we will research best times for doing certain attractions and stuff.
When I last visited the States from Oz - my 19 hour flight ended up taking 42 hours due to flight cancellations and instead of flying from Syd > LAX > JFK I had to go SYD > LA > LAS VEGAS > PHILADELPHIA > LA GUARDIA > JFK - this rattled me a bit as I was alone, but got me completely over my slight flying fear and also made me learn very quickly to go with the flow and not worry when things don't always run to plan.
Your last minute trip sounded fabulous though - often the last minute plans are the best. That would have been exciting coming from Brazil and then doing all of that without the long wait (even though it was postponed).
We are really excited about our trip. Thanks for your reply

 

[brettystar]

Vic and Alberts! Yes the Grand Floridian has excellent food. You will need formal attire to dine there, no jeans or short sleeves or sneakers. I would have dinner at Vic and A, then drinks at Mizner's lounge just down the hall. They make perfect drinks there. If you don't drink it's a great hotel to just lounge around a bit and then hit up the monorail which is on the 2nd floor of the GF.

It's good to be prepared, if your that scared about going you might want to bring something to calm you down while on holiday.

Yep got the formal attire thanks Schotz.
LOL - not 'that scared' just wanted to check nothing has been missed. These boards have been really helpful (much more than the official WDW site itself) and there have been things mentioned that I would never have thought of but that I would have been disappointed to have just rocked up to learn I needed to have arranged in advance.
This is probably the only time I will be able to visist so just wanted to do a double check.

 

[Longhorns68]

@brettystar.I would love to go visit Australia.What city is the nice one to visit?

 

[brettystar]

@brettystar.I would love to go visit Australia.What city is the nice one to visit?

Well longhorns I am probably bias and will recommend Sydney (as I live here). I have not seen all of Australia but I think Sydney should be a must so that you can see the Sydney Harbour (and iconic Harbour Bridge) and the Sydney Opera House.
Melbourne is also worth a visit for it's culture and cafe/restaurants.
Cairns/Port Douglas in Queensland is good also - you could see the Great Barrier Reef - spectacular.
You may also want to see Ayers Rock which is located in Darwin - can also see crocodiles and other things there too.
Come on over.

 

[TagsMissy]

@brettystar.I would love to go visit Australia.What city is the nice one to visit?

Well longhorns I am probably bias and will recommend Sydney (as I live here). I have not seen all of Australia but I think Sydney should be a must so that you can see the Sydney Harbour (and iconic Harbour Bridge) and the Sydney Opera House.
Melbourne is also worth a visit for it's culture and cafe/restaurants.
Cairns/Port Douglas in Queensland is good also - you could see the Great Barrier Reef - spectacular.
You may also want to see Ayers Rock which is located in Darwin - can also see crocodiles and other things there too.
Come on over.

Longhorns -- I don't live in Australia but my advice is land in whatever city you can get the best flights in and out of your city from -- rent a car and just explore! There's so much to see and sometimes the best vacations are those where there's no real destination, exploring itself is the destination

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

nyc2theworld is going to Australia in February! I will be sure to introduce you guys because I am sure he has questions!

 

[ilovemickeymost]

My all time favorite thing is Fantasmic & would say its the only thing you left off the list. From one planner to another, I totally understand. I actually enjoy figuring out how to make it all go together. Glad you figured in down time etc. And keep your eyes out for the magic, its everywhere. Most people go to AK just for the rides & miss the most incredible part of the entire park, the back trails & all the animals. Have a fabulous trip

 

[brettystar]

My all time favorite thing is Fantasmic & would say its the only thing you left off the list. From one planner to another, I totally understand. I actually enjoy figuring out how to make it all go together. Glad you figured in down time etc. And keep your eyes out for the magic, its everywhere. Most people go to AK just for the rides & miss the most incredible part of the entire park, the back trails & all the animals. Have a fabulous trip

Thanks!!
Fantasmic is on the list The concierge had helped us get in even though it was booked out at first

 

[DrGaellon]

We are from New York and will be in Orlando June 2-10; if you're going to be in the area before you go to Florida, perhaps we can meet for a drink.

I've planned dinners for each of our Disney park days, but not for Universal; I also booked one lunch, since my BF asked to eat at Japan at Epcot. Other than that, we will simply wander the parks doing as we like. (I plan to drag him back to Toy Story as soon as we get to Studios, but that's about it.) We are planning to try to make the Saturday 4pm Dole Whip meet-up as well.

 

[Mousemom]

I tend to be a planner who loves to have everything organized and scheduled. But....Once I get to Disney I've learned to be more flexible. My family has said I can "suck the fun" right out of our vacations because of my rigid schedules. I still make my lists by reading the guide books and watching the boards just because I love to plan, it helps me pass the time until our trip gets here. I do make sure all of our ADR's are made, tickets are bought; MNSCHP & EPCOT Segway tour, and my packing list is made so we don't forget anything. Once we get to WDW we plan our park days based on weather, where we are eating, and park hours. I think I need a support group for Disney micro planners..... Anyway have a great time and remember to be willing to change plans if necessary and enjoy every minute of the trip!