From the North Atlantic to the World - a May 2012 Pre-Trip Report

[Feckless]

Now it is so real! I am so excited... I was waiting to get a good deal, but I was noticing that a lot of the flights that I was watching were no longer available except in Executive Class. Also, the seat sale tickets were for times that wouldn't work for our family - would involve either staying overnight in Toronto or arriving late at MCO. We are spending so much money for the park tickets and the BC, that I don't want to waste a whole day arriving in the late evening. So, we decided to bite the bullet and book Westjet flights that bring us in to MCO at 1 p.m.. This should get us in so that we could have a swim and also make our 8 p.m. Biergarten reservation! Also, flying back the flight leaves at 2, which is the latest we can leave and still get back at a reasonable time (just after midnight).

YES YES YES I am totally thrilled with the flights, even though I am not thrilled with what we paid. Oh well, it was worth it to get more time at Disney!

 

[natebenma]

Now it is so real! I am so excited... I was waiting to get a good deal, but I was noticing that a lot of the flights that I was watching were no longer available except in Executive Class. Also, the seat sale tickets were for times that wouldn't work for our family - would involve either staying overnight in Toronto or arriving late at MCO. We are spending so much money for the park tickets and the BC, that I don't want to waste a whole day arriving in the late evening. So, we decided to bite the bullet and book Westjet flights that bring us in to MCO at 1 p.m.. This should get us in so that we could have a swim and also make our 8 p.m. Biergarten reservation! Also, flying back the flight leaves at 2, which is the latest we can leave and still get back at a reasonable time (just after midnight).

YES YES YES I am totally thrilled with the flights, even though I am not thrilled with what we paid. Oh well, it was worth it to get more time at Disney!

Hooray on booking your flights! One more thing to check off your list. I love that first "bonus" day at the world. Even with a long travel day, you are still pretty pumped to start enjoying your vacation.

 

[JanetMom]

Now it is so real! I am so excited... I was waiting to get a good deal, but I was noticing that a lot of the flights that I was watching were no longer available except in Executive Class. Also, the seat sale tickets were for times that wouldn't work for our family - would involve either staying overnight in Toronto or arriving late at MCO. We are spending so much money for the park tickets and the BC, that I don't want to waste a whole day arriving in the late evening. So, we decided to bite the bullet and book Westjet flights that bring us in to MCO at 1 p.m.. This should get us in so that we could have a swim and also make our 8 p.m. Biergarten reservation! Also, flying back the flight leaves at 2, which is the latest we can leave and still get back at a reasonable time (just after midnight).

YES YES YES I am totally thrilled with the flights, even though I am not thrilled with what we paid. Oh well, it was worth it to get more time at Disney!

Booking the flights is always the thing that makes it real for me. I know I can make the rest work at Disney, but the flights are often a challenge.

 

[Feckless]

So, put in my order at the Disney store online and had some stuff shipped to IPO. Also gave them a list of things to include in the gift baskets that they will hopefully be able to buy for me. Each kid will have a plush each (Pirates dog with key for DS and Cheshire Cat for DD), arcade cards, Disney Dollars, a Pirates gun for DS and a Nightmare before Xmas charm bracelet for DD, a Muppet vinylmation each in a sand bucket to fit with the Beach Club theme, with a light up Mickey helium balloon attached to each. Hopefully the Planning Office can sneak it in our room right after check-in if the kids are in the pool.

I also got an email from the other family that's going down and they called and got a great discount for their one bedroom at BCV (mine was bigger though. LOL) and they booked their tickets on points. They don't get in until 11:30 the first night so we are on our own the first day and a good part of the second I would imagine. I think that will probably work out fine and give us a chance to settle in before they arrive. Now that it's getting closer I'm a teensy bit stressed about it, even though we all get along great and they are awesome people. I just want to keep it that way, KWIM? I'm sure if I follow everyone's advice and just do our thing and make it so that they are super-welcome to come along, it will go fine. Famous last words. LOL

 

[Feckless]

With the other family coming in so late, we decided to change our Biergarten reservation to Teppan Edo. IPO came through again, and got us a reservation at this late date for 7:30 p.m.! We should be at the resort by 3, and I can't see us being in the pool any later than 3:30. Two pool hours, then cleanup then we are heading for Japan! DD is a huge anime fan, and we are hoping for some Totoro and Domo merchandise. Also, she loves Studio Ghibli and since that is the only connection between Disney and Japan (with the exception of the park of course! LOL) that I know about, we are hoping there might be some cool stuff there.

We are flying Westjet, and of course they announced a seat sale after we booked our tickets... Although it was only for new bookings, the super-helpful ticket agent on the phone cancelled us and rebooked, and in the process, I scored a $700 flight credit. Better than a poke in the eye, as my DH would say!

Things are coming together.

 

[Feckless]

All of the family is starting to get excited about the trip now, so they can actually stand to have me talk about it. As a result, I was able to have a discussion with everyone about their plans and for DD and DS, they both were disappointed that we will no longer be experiencing Biergarten. So, I took ANOTHER look at the reservations, and decided to try to replace our May 8th reservation at Via Napoli (since we are also going to Tutto Italia) with Biergarten. I emailed IPO, not really thinking we would get it because of the large group, but VOILA! Confirmed this morning for 7:30.

Also, I mentioned EMH to my DD and she said that she thought it would be totally cool to do late EMH at MK. I looked and for the 10 days we are there, the only late EMH at MK are for the day I have set aside already for the Dark Side. Then I realized that it closes at 7, and what the heck!! LMAO Given that it is possible that we will be doing Universal all day and then MK into the wee hours, I switched the following day from AK to a rest day. I figure we can always get a taxi to our dinner at Boma that evening, and do AK the following day. So, our daily plan looks like this:

Day One: Arrive 1 p.m., hopefully BC and SAB at 3 p.m., Japan with DD by 6 p.m., dinner at Teppan Edo at 7:30 for the 4 of us (other family does not arrive until 11:30 p.m.)

Day Two: Epcot Rope Drop to about 2 p.m.. Dinner at Tutto Italia at 7:15.

Day Three: Rest Day. Cape May character breakfast at 9:20 a.m..

Day Four: Magic Kingdom Day! Crystal Palace character breakfast at 8:05 a.m..

Day Five: Rest Day. DH and other H have golf booked for 9:45 a.m. at Osprey Ridge. Dinner at 'Ohana at 6:30 p.m., then Dole Whip and alcoholic beverage on the Poly Beach for the Electrical Water Parade and Wishes.

Day Six: Dark Side Day! Towncar from Tiffany Towncars to get us there for 8:30 a.m. (9 a.m. opening to the masses). Leave sometime before or at 7 (closing). Dinner at Captain's Grille at the YC at 8:20 p.m.. Head to MK for EMH until 1 a.m. Alternate plan: Catch something to eat at Citywalk, and head straight to MK to catch the parade and Wishes and stay for EMH!

Day Seven: Rest Day. Dinner at Boma at 6:00 p.m. - we'll catch a cab over there around 5:30.

Day Eight: Animal Kingdom Day. Hit rope drop and stay until about 2 or 3. Head back to the hotel and then go to Biergarten for supper at 7:35 p.m.

Day Nine: Hollywood Studios Day. Hit EMH and stay until at least lunch - we've book Sci Fi Dine in Theatre for 12:40.

Day Ten: Rest Day, with the exception of Brown Derby at 5:50 p.m. and hopefully Fantasmic after that.

Day Eleven: Head home at 2:30 p.m., so catch ME at about 11 a.m. Cry profusely.

Could not BE more excited! Thanks for reading!!! Any (gentle) criticisms welcome!!!