Background: Some of y'all may remember me from the old days. A lot has changed in my life, a lot hasn't. I haven't been to WDW since 2002 (though I visited Disneyland in 2005).
One of the biggest changes is the addition of two nieces, who will be 6 and 3 when we go to WDW this coming January! I'm very excited. I think the first question I asked my sister when she was pregnant with #1 was, "What can we take her to Disney World?" They've both been more than once, but never with Aunt Goofy!
Anyway, my mother has been itching to go on a weekend getaway, just the two of us, and since we're completely different people, it was hard to agree on a destination. (I like to blend in with the crowd and take long walks and stare at the ocean; she prefers traditional sightseeing.) One day a light bulb went on over my head and I thought, "Why don't we get a preview of WDW by going for a weekend?" I mean, even though I haven't been interested in the place in a while, knowing I'm going in January has resparked a desire to visit. I hooked her in with the flower and garden festival and (semi) cheap rooms at Pop Century, and she was sold.
We're only going to be there for two days--Mom can't get away from work, so we're leaving Friday night and coming back Sunday night on the latest flight. Our plan is to spend all day Saturday in Epcot, enjoying the F&G festival and revisiting some favorite attractions (Soarin', SE) and seeing the Nemo-enhanced Living Seas for the first time. In the early afternoon we'll take a break for tea at the GF (my birthday gift for her, as somehow along the way she decided this was a trip to celebrate her upcoming milestone birthday). Then we'll go back to Epcot for some more touring, have a light dinner at Chefs de France, and hopefully be out in time for Illuminations.
The next day, we'll hit the MK as soon as it opens. I have no idea how crowded this weekend will be--Gay Days starts the following Tuesday, and I know some schools are out, but we'll deal. Sunday night also has extended hours at the MK. I'm not sure how that will effect us--either everyone will come to the MK for the whole day because they know they can stay late, or people will mosey in later on in the day, knowing they can stay later. We've been there several times, and we're not going to freak if we don't get on anything. My top priorities are Mickey's Philharmagic (haven't seen it), Peter Pan, HM, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Splash Mountain, which my wimpy mother claims she'll go on. We'll have at least six hours, I would say--our flight is at 8:30, so hopefully Disney Express won't want to pick us up any earlier than 4.
So, that's my trip in a nutshell. (Did I mention I'll be traveling in a nutshell?)
Any hints, input, etc.? Thanks.
One of the biggest changes is the addition of two nieces, who will be 6 and 3 when we go to WDW this coming January! I'm very excited. I think the first question I asked my sister when she was pregnant with #1 was, "What can we take her to Disney World?" They've both been more than once, but never with Aunt Goofy!
Anyway, my mother has been itching to go on a weekend getaway, just the two of us, and since we're completely different people, it was hard to agree on a destination. (I like to blend in with the crowd and take long walks and stare at the ocean; she prefers traditional sightseeing.) One day a light bulb went on over my head and I thought, "Why don't we get a preview of WDW by going for a weekend?" I mean, even though I haven't been interested in the place in a while, knowing I'm going in January has resparked a desire to visit. I hooked her in with the flower and garden festival and (semi) cheap rooms at Pop Century, and she was sold.
We're only going to be there for two days--Mom can't get away from work, so we're leaving Friday night and coming back Sunday night on the latest flight. Our plan is to spend all day Saturday in Epcot, enjoying the F&G festival and revisiting some favorite attractions (Soarin', SE) and seeing the Nemo-enhanced Living Seas for the first time. In the early afternoon we'll take a break for tea at the GF (my birthday gift for her, as somehow along the way she decided this was a trip to celebrate her upcoming milestone birthday). Then we'll go back to Epcot for some more touring, have a light dinner at Chefs de France, and hopefully be out in time for Illuminations.
The next day, we'll hit the MK as soon as it opens. I have no idea how crowded this weekend will be--Gay Days starts the following Tuesday, and I know some schools are out, but we'll deal. Sunday night also has extended hours at the MK. I'm not sure how that will effect us--either everyone will come to the MK for the whole day because they know they can stay late, or people will mosey in later on in the day, knowing they can stay later. We've been there several times, and we're not going to freak if we don't get on anything. My top priorities are Mickey's Philharmagic (haven't seen it), Peter Pan, HM, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Splash Mountain, which my wimpy mother claims she'll go on. We'll have at least six hours, I would say--our flight is at 8:30, so hopefully Disney Express won't want to pick us up any earlier than 4.
So, that's my trip in a nutshell. (Did I mention I'll be traveling in a nutshell?)
Any hints, input, etc.? Thanks.
