First Trip! September 2013 PTR

[MissSabrinaLee]

Hello! This is my first PTR! Not really sure how to go about this but really want to try.

I guess I'll start by introducing the cast!

Me:

My name is Sabrina, I'm 22. I work at a bakery and I've only been to WDW once, when I was 8. I love everything Disney!

Next up is DBF:

Erik also 22. Never been to WDW before. He works at the same bakery as I do. He likes Disney movies well enough, but isn't big on theme parks so I know he's really going on this trip for me.

We live in Napa, CA and we have been together for over 5 years! Both of these pictures are from times when we were brewing beer, which is a hobby of ours. We're both major foodies. We actually met at Culinary school where we both majored in baking/pastry arts. We live with our 3 cats.

Magic:

Eros:

Aaneka:

Next up- where, when etc.

 

[MissSabrinaLee]

We have already booked our trip and I am counting down the days!

The details as of right now:

We will be visiting WDW 9/18-9/26 and staying in a Little Mermaid room at the AoA. We have 6 MYW base tickets and will also be spending 1 day at Universal IoA. I'm hoping that there will be a free dining promotion available for our dates that we could take advantage of.

We will be celebrating 6 years together on 9/20 while we are there.

Since Erik has never been before and I have only been once when I was little, there is a lot we want to do! We also want to try to eat at many different locations since we love food!

Erik mainly agreed to this trip because I'm dying to go so whenever he has a preference about something I am going to try really hard to make sure it happens since I want him to enjoy himself also!

My basic plan in my head (since it's still pretty far away) includes how many days at which parks and some dining choices.

This is the basic itinerary I've come up with so far:

Day 1- We're going to be taking an overnight flight the night before our reservation at AoA in order to get to Orlando pretty early and have a full day. Arrival day will be pretty laid back though. Spend some time at Downtown Disney and potentially go mini golfing. Erik has requested Raglan Road for dinner, and I really want to go to Earl of Sandwich so that will probably be lunch. I am looking forward to the Lego and Ghirardelli stores.

Day 2- Magic Kingdom! I really want to start with MK and hopefully the parade and wishes.

Day 3- This is 9/20, our anniversary. We will be going to IoA this day because I want to have a short park day so we can have a nice dinner to celebrate. We are mainly going to IoA for Harry Potter as we are both HUGE fans!! Hoping to do California Grill and watch wishes for dinner, although Victoria and Albert's is on our wish list.

Remaining days- We are going to do 1 day each at Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom, 2 days at EPCOT, and 1 more day at Magic Kingdom.

These are the dining choices I would really like to do, I haven't really talked to Erik about it yet though, so his choices may be different.
-BoG for lunch one day
-Monsieur Paul's
-50's Prime Time

Our last day we are hoping to leave pretty late in the day and spend the morning relaxing and maybe visit the Boardwalk area.

 

[MissSabrinaLee]

Awesome. Hope you post some trip pictures too!

Welcome!!
We are picture fiends, so there will definitely be pictures!

 

[MissSabrinaLee]

Since the customizable maps on the Disney website are finally updated to show New Fantasyland, Erik and I are going to start discussing which rides/shows/restaurants he's interested in. He really doesn't like roller coasters so that gets rid of a lot of RD headliners for us. And no getting wet either! I also ordered the free planning DVD to try and get him more excited about the trip. 255 days doesn't seem that long...

 

[MissSabrinaLee]

So Erik and I have decided we want to go to V&A's for our special anniversary dinner. We want to try to get a reservation at the Chef's Table! I've been looking at a ton of reviews and am very excited. However, the Chef's Table doesn't do any seatings on Friday, which is the day of our anniversary so I'll have to change the schedule around a bit. I guess I should probably plan our itinerary around that dinner since we'll probably be lucky to get a reservation for any night of our trip, forget a specific night. Keeping my fingers crossed that come March 22 I can get that reservation!!

 

[MissSabrinaLee]

Today I bought our 1 day base tickets for Universal!! We will be using these to go to the Islands of Adventure Park for Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Erik and I are both big HP fans and are very excited! I'm even more excited because this is something that Erik actually WANTS to do!

I'm having some issues arranging our transportation though. I looked into our different options and originally wanted to rent a car. It would be about the same price as the shuttle but give us more flexibility. Especially because IoA day is also the day when we will be having our anniversary dinner. I thought it would be nice to not have to take a bus all dressed up. However, when I called to reserve the car, I found out there is a pretty steep fee for drivers under 25. Seeing as Erik and I are both 25, this sucks! It took a car that would have been $40-something and made it $75! That just is not worth it in my opinion. So it looks like we will be taking a shuttle. Anyone have experience with this? How long does the trip usually take?

In other news...

Last spring Erik's parents took us on a cruise. It was my first cruise and a lot of fun! Yesterday Erik's parents called to tell us that his grandparents are offering to take us on another cruise! So exciting! Family is very important to them and they want to make sure we all get to spend some time together since both of Erik and his brother live so far from his parents and grandparents. The only problem is we both have jobs where we can't take that much time off of work (which is why we don't see them that often). And we already are taking so much time off for our Disney trip. I feel bad asking for more time because I know it makes it harder on the team at work, but at the same time I feel like this kind of opportunity doesn't come around that often and we should take advantage of it and spend some time with family! I'm conflicted.

 

[MissSabrinaLee]

Our flights are booked! Erik was able to use points from his credit card to pay for both of our round trip tickets. We are taking an overnight flight from San Fransisco arriving in Orlando the morning of the 18th @ 11 AM. We leave Orlando to come back home @ 1:40 PM on the 26th. Even Erik said it makes it feel so much more like the trip is actually happening! Can't wait!!! 218 days.
:

 

[ginny_lynn]

Hello! I came over from the Sept 2013 facebook group! I am excited to see how your firt trip goes! Our first trip was last August and it was great!

 

[MissSabrinaLee]

Hello! I came over from the Sept 2013 facebook group! I am excited to see how your firt trip goes! Our first trip was last August and it was great!

Thanks for following along!! Are you also visiting in September (since you came from the facebook page)?

 

[MissSabrinaLee]

On Valentine's day I came home from a late night at work to...

Inside the bag was a really cute Minnie Mouse shirt!

And then another surprise last night!

Universal tickets are here!!

Now just waiting on the darn operating schedule and my weekend would be perfect...

 

[MissSabrinaLee]

Yesterday while I was walking around Wal-mart, I saw a bunch of tie-dying products. I thought, "Hey, this would be a fun evening for DBF and me!" So I got a kit and then when I got home I looked up the Mickey head tie-dyes I've seen online and decided to try it out. Not too shabby if you ask me! Can't wait to wear this!!!

 

[ginny_lynn]

Nice shirt! We mad ones with the same kit from walmart for last years trip! This year I want to try what you did without th mickey centered on mine! Are you planning on making any othr shirts?

 

[happybelle]

I loved the Tye Dye shirts, great job.

 

[Mjtsmami]

Love the shirts! I think I might have to make some with my boys for their first trip!

 

[MissSabrinaLee]

Nice shirt! We mad ones with the same kit from walmart for last years trip! This year I want to try what you did without th mickey centered on mine! Are you planning on making any othr shirts?

Thanks! I will say I wish I had decided where to put the Mickey with the shirt ON though. Cause it's right on my stomach now and it accentuates what does not need to be accentuated! I probably won't make anymore shirts, it was just a fun project I wanted to try.

I loved the Tye Dye shirts, great job.

Thank you!

Love the shirts! I think I might have to make some with my boys for their first trip!

Thanks! It was a lot of fun, and really easy. Your boys will have a blast.

 

[ginny_lynn]

Thanks! I will say I wish I had decided where to put the Mickey with the shirt ON though. Cause it's right on my stomach now and it accentuates what does not need to be accentuated! I probably won't make anymore shirts, it was just a fun project I wanted to try.

Lol, good point, I don't like them centered but it will be goo to put the shirt on and mark it. Centered does nothing for us girls that are bigger in the front....lol. Boo can't wait to start working on our shirts!

 

[MissSabrinaLee]

Boo can't wait to start working on our shirts!

Have fun! I can't wait to see the pictures.

 

[MissSabrinaLee]

ETA: ADR's!
Hooray!! The September operating hours are finally posted!!
Now the itinerary...

Day 1(9/18) - Arrive Orlando @ 11 AM, mini golf and DTD, Raglan Road @ 7PM

Day 2 - Morning EMH @ MK, Plaza @ 5:35PM, MSEP and wishes

Day 3 - EPCOT Akershus @ 8:15AM, break, return for dinner Monieur Paul's @ 8:15PM and Illuminations

Day 4 - EPCOT @ 11ish? World Showcase day!

Day 5 - HS for RD, Sci-Fi @ 5:30PM, Fantasmic!

Day 6 - Universal for Wizarding World of HP. Leave park earlyish, Victoria & Albert's

Day 7 - Tusker House @ 8:00AM, AK, Sanaa @ 7PM

Day 8 - Crystal Palace @ 8:05AM, 2nd MK day

Day 9 - Departure day

 

[ginny_lynn]

Day 3 - EPCOT RD, break, return for dinner and Illuminations

We are planning epcot this day too! Any idea where you will be eating?

 

[MissSabrinaLee]

We are planning epcot this day too! Any idea where you will be eating?

Monsieur Paul's! I'm really excited for this meal. It's also the day of our 6th anniversary together.