Getting Ready for the BIG 4-0 in WDW - A July 2011 PTR TR Link 7/17/11 Pg. 6

[IheartDDuck]

Am here and subbing!! It's been nice meeting some of your family on your TRs and am looking forward to reading about your big family trip.

on your mum and dads 40th anniversary and getting to stay at BLT - it sure looks great!!

I'm super excited for Bay Lake Tower! Can't wait. Gotta love monorail resorts.

I'm coming along!
Following your daughter's TR now and you have such a wonderful family!
Can't wait to hear what y'all have planned!

Hi Brad!

I'm enjoying the other trip report so I'll hop on board this one too.

The more the merrier!

Hello, I'm in! nice intro photos, the photo's of the little ones are so cute!

I'm guessing your brother/son Chris isn't on the disboards?!

Looking forward to hearing about your trip, three rooms at Bay Lake tower, what an amazing start!

Thanks, it's going to be tons of fun. Chris isn't on the boards, but maybe he's a lurker......

Joining in on this one too!! Sounds fabulous!!!!! Congratulations on 40 years!!! My parent and DH parents both celebrated 40 years in 08! 40 years of marriage is definitely something to be proud of!

I sometimes can't believe they've been married that long. They will always be the parents I remember from when I was little.

I'M HERE!!! Thanks for the link Danielle! I love WDW in the summer time! We always loved the fact that the parks are open till 2am/3am and we take advantage of afternoon breaks/pool time!!!! Gotta love the monorail resorts

Hi Megan!

As you will notice, we scheduled TONS of water park/pool breaks. Honestly, I'm kind of afraid of melting in the heat!

Thought I'd join in!

Hi Sarah!

 

[DVCWDWMEMBER]

Thought I'd join in!

Welcome to my PTR..... Sorry forgot to add Danielle's PTR too

 

[DalmationGal29]

Great Start!! I am really excited to read your PTR as we are heading to WDW for July 16th - 30th!

Hope to start my own PTR soon!

Very interested in your plan of attack as we have never visited in the summer before.

Can't wait to read more!

Kim

 

[DVCWDWMEMBER]

Great Start!! I am really excited to read your PTR as we are heading to WDW for July 16th - 30th!

Hope to start my own PTR soon!

Very interested in your plan of attack as we have never visited in the summer before.

Can't wait to read more!

Kim

Glad you joined. Can't wait to read your PTR. Make sure to let me know when you start it

 

[precious pixie]

nice spreadsheet

 

[DVCWDWMEMBER]

nice spreadsheet

Danielle and I are very anal about planning our trips. Especially this trip since we will have 2 little ones with us and we want to make sure that they have plenty of rest time so we won't have any crabby kids and possibly some adults . I am just happy and excited that our whole family is able to go

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

nice updates!!!

Where did you find the crowd predicitions?? The one site I went to said you had to pay to see that so of course I didn't but I'm curious if you paid or found a free one!!??

 

[IheartDDuck]

nice updates!!!

Where did you find the crowd predicitions?? The one site I went to said you had to pay to see that so of course I didn't but I'm curious if you paid or found a free one!!??

I paid for the membership to the touring plans website, so it's not the free one. You can only view the free one online for a month I think.

 

[mickeysmyboy]

First I have to say I'm shocked at the kiboshing (is that a word?) the intimate dinner!!!!!!!!!

I surprised DH with an intimate dinner and cruise on the grand one in Oct and it was FAB-U-LOUS!!

Seriously, reconsider the kibosh! I get the family vacation thing but you won't regret it!

Second, LOVE The spreadsheet! I'm a planner and a spreadsheet girl! I love the color coding!!!

 

[DVCWDWMEMBER]

First I have to say I'm shocked at the kiboshing (is that a word?) the intimate dinner!!!!!!!!!

I surprised DH with an intimate dinner and cruise on the grand one in Oct and it was FAB-U-LOUS!!

Seriously, reconsider the kibosh! I get the family vacation thing but you won't regret it!

Second, LOVE The spreadsheet! I'm a planner and a spreadsheet girl! I love the color coding!!!

We don't get together as a whole family very often so that was the reason to say no to the intimate dinner. Rick and I want to spend as much time with our kids and grandkids as we possibly can.

 

[IheartDDuck]

Bump bump.

Man this trip is coming up! We'll have something soon, I promise!

 

[DVCWDWMEMBER]

Sorry to have not been able to update this PTR. My mom Had a mild stroke the end of April and was in the hospital and then rehab for a while. She has been home now for about 2 weeks and is doing great. We bought our plane tickets about a month ago and have made our reservation at POP for Friday night July 8th and again for July 15th our last day at WDW.

We are flying out of Milwaukee around 12:40PM arriving in Orlando around 4:30 PM. Grab the rental car and off to POP. We have no plans to go into the park because Jason doesn't have an annual pass and since we will be arriving after 6:00PM we will probably just hang around the hotel or go Downtown Disney. The food court at POP is awesome so we will probably eat dinner there.

I can't believe that we will be there in just over a month.

 

[IheartDDuck]

So as you've seen by my mom's post above, some things have changed with the trip.

Originally we were planning on driving. However, with the price of gas where it is right now and that fact that my mom now owns a tank (Nissan Armada), we decided that we would see if we could get a reasonable flight, preferably on Southwest because they don't charge for baggage.

Well, we were in luck, because we managed to get a reasonable flight for us out of Milwaukee on Friday July 8th at 12:30pm. Not ideal time, but the price was right, so I wasn't going to complain. So now, mom, dad, myself, Jason and Joaquin are flying out on Friday the 8th at 12:30pm returning on Saturday the 16th at 4pm. Not too bad.

We did end up booking a hotel for the first night and last night, because our Bay Lake Tower reservations are only from Saturday the 9th until Friday the 15th. So, we booked two rooms at POP on the 8th and the 15th. The price was very good with the annual passholder discount.

Since we will be arriving later in the day on Friday the 8th, the plan is to simply check in at POP and eat dinner at Everything POP. Everyone who participated in my Thanksgiving/New Years TR knows I love that food court.

Other then that, we don't have any plans for the day. I think it will either be pool time at the resort, or a visit to Downtown Disney for the evening. We will just be playing that by ear.

Next: Day Two Itinerary

 

[IheartDDuck]

So here's my pretty spreadsheet!

The plan on this day is to begin at Epcot for the morning. However, that's not until we make a visit to:

The Grand Floridian! For some breakfast at 1900 Park Fare. This is our OOP breakfast together, and we thought it would be a great way to start our first full day in the parks together.

After breakfast, we'll head off to Epcot. Hopefully we'll be able to get Soarin' in, Test Track, and some others. I'm crossing my fingers, because I measured Joaquin not too long ago when we made a short trip to Wisconsin Dells, and he was just at 40 inches. I'm hoping that holds true when we're in WDW. Or I'm buying him some shoes with little lifts.

Lunch plan is the Tangierine Cafe. Chris mentioned that he has never eaten there before and wanted to give it a try. The rest of us love it, so we're happy eating there as well.

Our plan for the afternoon is that we go to Downtown Disney to do some shopping maybe, but mostly because we want to have dinner at Wolfgang Puck Express. Mmmmm....

Then, the Coup de Grace for this part is.....

Fireworks Dessert Party at the Magic Kingdom!

Super excited for this. This is our gift to mom and dad.

After fireworks, the Magic Kingdom is open until 2am, so brave souls are welcome to attempt to stay.



Bets are on right now to see who caves first (I say it's Chris, and I think he's going to turn in right after the fireworks).

 

[TanzUnited99]

I'm pleased to see you both back on here. Seems like you have made the right call taking flights instead of driving

Your plans for July 10 sound great! Can't wait to read about your breakfast at 1900 PF. I hope Joaquin gets to ride the attractions at Epcot - lol at getting him some shoes with lifts!

I love your gift of Wishes Dessert party - am also hoping to book this.

 

[IheartDDuck]

I'm pleased to see you both back on here. Seems like you have made the right call taking flights instead of driving

Your plans for July 10 sound great! Can't wait to read about your breakfast at 1900 PF. I hope Joaquin gets to ride the attractions at Epcot - lol at getting him some shoes with lifts!

I love your gift of Wishes Dessert party - am also hoping to book this.

Flying is so much better. Plus, I just drove a short trip with Joaquin in the car for three hours, and man! I can't imagine 18 hours with him if three was that crazy.

Oh, I really hope you're able to get the dessert party. It's well worth it in my opinion.

 

[DVCWDWMEMBER]

I totally agree with Danielle about the Dessert Party. We loved it when we did it the desserts are awesome and off course the view for the fireworks is the greatest. I can't believe that it is only 27 days away and off we fly Can you tell I am excited

 

[IheartDDuck]

I totally agree with Danielle about the Dessert Party. We loved it when we did it the desserts are awesome and off course the view for the fireworks is the greatest. I can't believe that it is only 27 days away and off we fly Can you tell I am excited

I'm excited to. But you better get crackin' on this PTR lady!

 

[IheartDDuck]

So here is my itinerary spreadsheet for Monday the 11th.

The plan on this day is to visit Typhoon Lagoon. *sigh* It's my absolute favorite water park at WDW. It's just so pretty to visit, you know?

Joaquin had a good time the last time we visited too.

But, before we head out, the plan is to have breakfast at Contempo Cafe. This will be a first for all of us after it was redone.

Lunch will probably be at Typhoon Tilly's or some location at Typhoon Lagoon.

The key to this day for me will be remembering to use a lot of sunscreen. As many of you who follow my other trip reports know, I'm very very pale. Sun and I, we just don't get along. I'm not meant to tan. Burn yes, tan no. So I will applying liberally this entire trip.

The evening on this day is open for us. Who knows where the day will take us!

I'm being hopeful for this day. My niece Riley is not a fan of water. We'll have to see how it goes for her. Joaquin loves it, Riley, not to much. She's not afraid of water per se, she just won't push herself past the very very shallow end.

Everyone cross their fingers for her!

 

[IheartDDuck]

Here is my itinerary spreadsheet for Tuesday the 12th.

The planned park for this day is Hollywood Studios.

I am super excited to get the opportunity to ride the new Star Tours reboot. This is another time that I'm hoping Joaquin really is 40 inches like I thought.

Funny story, the other day, I'm telling Joaquin about this ride, because he loves the Clone Wars. So his new thing now is, "no, I'm scared, I don't want to ride it."

Now, this is only strange because this child will do just about anything. So I ask Jason what's up with that. Jason said it's a new thing with him. He's not really afraid, just pretending like he is. Little sneak that one!

So we'll have a small snack breakfast at Starring Rolls. Then we will have lunch at Backlot Express. Those who have followed my other TR's know that I feel Backlot Express is the best CS in DHS. The rest of them leave something to be desired IMHO.

After spending the day at DHS, we will go back to the hotel. We will possibly be having dinner at Contempo Cafe, but that's up in the air.

Then, it's possibly magic hours at Epcot if anyone is inspired.