"Happy Graduation, We're going to Disney World!" - A May 2011 Pre-Trip report

[silverhaze269]

I know what you’re probably thinking…a pre-trip report for May, already?! I know it seems like a little ways away, it’s going to creep around the corner and it’ll be here sooner than you know it!

Anyway, my name is Amy and this will be my first real attempt at a trip report. I once started one a few years ago when my family went to Disney for Christmas, but I didn’t keep up with it and eventually it got forgotten. Here’s hoping this one turns out better. I think it will. I've been so excited about this upcoming trip that I've been on the DIS pretty much every day since I booked the trip about a month ago. I can't wait!

So here’s some background info. My family loves Disney World…a lot. My mom went 4 times within the span of a year once, and living in Canada, that’s a feat. Between 2003 and 2008 I had been to Orlando for a theme park once a year. The last time I was in “the World” was April of 2008. I went with my mom and my cousins. It was their first time going, and I couldn’t wait to show them around. They also had a 6 year old with them, so it was neat to see things through a child’s eyes for once. The trip was more about them than it was about me, so I sacrificed a few things for the ‘greater good’. Ever since I got back from that trip I’ve been aching to get back, and until recently getting back to “the World” was just out of the question.

Fast-forward to this past July. I was at a birthday supper with the cousins I went to Disney with, and we made plans to come back in October of 2011. Well, ever since that night I had been going on to price some vacations and I’d been finding the prices a little higher than I was hoping to pay. Then I started playing around with the dates when I found a free dining offer. I couldn’t let this opportunity pass so I gave Disney a call to get a quote, and to my utter surprise I found out this trip would be really affordable, only about $100 CAD a day. I couldn’t pass it up, so I put the deposit down. (At first I booked at the POP but then we got the itch to look at other hotels and ended up switching to the CSR)

At the time of booking the cast member asked if we would be celebrating anything and at first I said no, but then I got to thinking. I will be celebrating something…In May I will be graduating university with a Bachelor of Arts that has taken me way too long to finish. I don’t think they’ll do anything special for us, but it will be nice to say that we’ve got something to celebrate when we’re there.

So we’re going from May 27 to June 4. I’m going with my Mom, Dad, and my girlfriend. Just so you have something to look at, here they are...

My Mom:

My Dad:

My Girlfriend:

And here I am! (this is only one I have that's sort of recent, sorry for the Facebook profile picture quality of it):

I've been to Disney about 4 times, my Dad's been there 5 times, my Mom's been there 7 times, and my girlfriend has been there about 4 times as well, so we know our way around. This trip is all about the rides for me. I plan on doing everything except Space Mountain (I have a bad back and I hear it's gotten really rough lately), The Tower of Terror (I do not do big drops well), and Aerosmith Rollercoaster (I'm still on the fence, but I'm not so sure I could deal with going upside down). To date I've never been on the above rides as well as Splash Mountain, Kali River Rapids, Dinosaur, the new Toy Story one (wasn't open in April 2008), Ellen's Energy Adventure, the Figment ride, and Expedition Everest.

So at the risk of making this too long I'm going to stop here. I was told I can make our ADR's on the 28th (this coming Sunday), so I'll let you know how I made out on Sunday!

 

[SnoWhiteRabbit]

I'll follow your report...It's smart to start now. May will come quickly. I just started my trip report for our trip which is coming up in 10 days. The time flew by so quickly that I hardly feel prepared! I wish I started sooner. We're surprising the kids this weekend -- they dont know yet about the trip

Anyhow, have fun with your report. I look forward to hearing more as the plans unfold!

 

[silverhaze269]

Thanks! I've been wanting to start one for a while now but thought it was too early...I just couldn't wait any longer!

 

[silverhaze269]

So I just couldn't stay away until tomorrow...the anticipation to get all my ADR's is too much

I've been trying to plan our ADR's around the EMH's as best as I can, but I still haven't found the calendar for June yet. Here's hoping that things stay the way they are now, or else I might have to shuffle a few things around.

Anyway, in 2008 I had the DDP, so I've had a chance to check out some of the table service restaurants. We had dinner at O'hana the first night we were there, then we ate at Boma for dinner, the Coral Reef for lunch, O'hana again for breakfast, the 50's Prime Time for dinner, and the Sci-Fi Diner for lunch. I really enjoyed my meals at all of those places, but I loved O'hana and the 50's Prime Time so much that I have to take my girlfriend to them this trip. She's never been on the DDP so I want to make sure she gets a good experience.

With that in mind, here is the list of places I'm hoping to get into, mostly for dinner, but if all they have on those days are lunches then I'll have to settle.

27 - We arrive , OOP meal
28 - AK, Yack'n'Yetti
29 - MK, O'hana
30 - HS, Brown Derby
31 - MK am/Epcot pm, Akershus
1 - ?, Saana
2 - AK, Tusker House breakfast
3 - HS, 50's Prime Time Cafe
4 - We leave

I really hope this gives us a good variety. I can't wait for Saana, Brown Derby, and Yack'n'Yetti. I've heard great things about each place, with the exception of Saana (I just like the look of their menu).

 

[silverhaze269]

Got all my ADR's

 

[silverhaze269]

Okay, so it's been a while since I've updated, but with the holidays and everything it's been hard to find some quality time.

Anyway, a lot has happened since I last updated. I'm going to give you the backstory. Around the beginning of November I started thinking about proposing to my girlfriend on our Disney trip. I envisioned this really romantic proposal at the California Grill just minutes before the fireworks, but I knew it would take a lot to get my idea off the ground. I told my mom about my plans, and she thought they were fantastic. I also solicited some help from our fellow Dis-ers, and with that I booked a dinner about an hour before the fireworks.

Long story short, I ended up proposing to her on Christmas day. It certianly wasn't as romantic as it would have been at Disney, but it was on a special day, and it seemed like the right time. Afterwords I found out she had been planning the same thing, so we shared a few laughs over that.

Anyway, I ended up booking us a nice celebratory engagement dinner at the Coral Reef the night we get to Disney. It'll just be the two of us, which will be nice.

I've also been seriously contemplating the Wild Africa Trek tour at the AK. To my knowledge they haven't released May dates yet, so I'm still waiting on that, but if it's $189 I just might do it. I think I could rope my now fiance into doing it too, especially now that you're allowed to bring a small camera.

I've got class soon, so I'd better run, but when I get back home I'll post my recently done up touring plans. My parents wanted them more than I wanted to do them up, because I don't like having things planned out to much, but I think they'll be pretty flexible. Gotta run...until next time!

 

[silverhaze269]

So here I am again. I should be in class right now, but I woke up with a whopping headache, and when I got to the bus stop I realized that I had forgotten one of my books so by the time I got back home and got it I had missed my bus, which would have made me late for class, which I hate. Thus, here I am.

After a nap and a mocha, I'm feeling much better, and ready to take on the day...ie, lurk around here on the DISboards until I have to go to the dentist

So, here are my 'touring plans'. I made them up because my dad wanted to have an idea of what we were going to do/where we were going to be each day. Normally I wouldn't plan this thoroughly, but since he asked I did it. I think it might be a bit ambitious for my parents, but my fiance and I are still young so we can probably manage it

Anyway here it is:
Friday May 27: Arrive in MCO at 11:35, eta at hotel is 12:45. MK around 1:30, then head by monorail to EPCOT for 6. Coral Reef ressie at 7:20.
Saturday May 28: Early breakfast, then bus for AK at 7:30 for eta at AK for 8. Yak'n'Yetti ressie at 4. (Maybe doing Wild Africa Treck if we decide to do it and they're still offering it)
Sunday May 29: "Normal" breakfast, then bus for an unknown park at 8:30 to be at the park for 9. Then transportation to MK at 4, monorail to Poly for O'hana dinner at 5. EMH at MK till 2 am.
Monday May 30: Early breakfast, bus for AK at 7:30 for eta at AK for 8. Bus to HS at 3, HBD ressie at 4:30. HS EMH till 10.
Tuesday May 31: Early breakfast, bus for MK at 7:30 for eta at MK for 8. Monorail to EPCOT for 3, Akershus ressie at 4:55. EPCOT EMH till 12.
Wednesday June 1: Early breakfast, bus for HS at 7:30 eta at HS 8. Transportation to AKL at 3:30, Saana ressie at 5.
Thursday June 2: Transportation to AK at 7:15, ressie at Tusker House for 8. Free time for the rest of the day. Maybe DD? Exploring the resort?
Friday June 3: Early breakfast, bus for EPCOT at 7:30 for eta at EPCOT at 8. Transportation to HS at 3 pm, 50's Prime Time ressie at 4:30.
Saturday June 4: Flight home at 12:35

I've never really done split days at the parks, so I'm hoping this will go pretty well, but it could backfire. I'm expecting to be pretty exhausted at the end of every day, but I really want to take advantage of the EHM's because I have a feeling it's going to be super busy when we're there. I'm sure my parents probably won't follow us around the whole time, but maybe for half a day or something. I also may be way off on my time estimations for traveling to the parks. We'll see...it's not like I'm going to be upset if things don't go exactly as I'm expecting.

Anyway, I should go before I write a book I might be back later to update on the status of everything else going on right now that's not Disney. Until next time!

 

[Chaitali]

Hi, I just saw the link to your PTR on the May 2011 board. We're going to be there the 17th to 22nd, so not too far before you Just thought I'd come over and subscribe. Good luck, and congrats on the engagement!

 

[Aburns8]

Subbing in! Congratulations on your upcoming graduation! You definitely deserve a trip.

 

[silverhaze269]

Thanks for subbing guys!

So here I am, just finishing my breakfast, and dreading going outside. Right now it's 18 degrees here (I converted the temperature so it's easier for you guys to understand) but it feels more like 3. I wish I were in Orlando now. Really badly.

After my DIS day yesterday I'm going to have to start getting back into my "real life". I'm just finishing up my Bachelor of Arts degree, and I'm only taking 2 classes this term, but I missed my class yesterday...so naturally I spent the majority of the day here on the DIS. I'm working today, but you can bet what I'll be doing when I get home

 

[pooksma]

Hi Amy

Followed over from the Canadian Board. What a great start. Congratulations on your engagement! I thought it was great that you were both planning the same thing!

Glad to see you got all of your ADRs. We are putting together our list now-getting ready for February to book. Its never to early to start planning for WDW. Look forward to reading more as you travel with that great looking crew.

Cheers fellow Canadian

 

[silverhaze269]

Hi Amy

Followed over from the Canadian Board. What a great start. Congratulations on your engagement! I thought it was great that you were both planning the same thing!

Glad to see you got all of your ADRs. We are putting together our list now-getting ready for February to book. Its never to early to start planning for WDW. Look forward to reading more as you travel with that great looking crew.

Cheers fellow Canadian

Thanks! We both had a good laugh over that...

You're right, it's never to early too start planning for WDW. Now I'm wishing I'd started sooner!

 

[silverhaze269]

So I can't let this one slide without an update on here somewhere...even if it's just in my PTR. I know some places may be colder than Halifax, NS today, but I have to say that it's down right bone-chilling cold out today. How cold you ask? In Fahrenheit, it feels like -24 (actual air temp is -2)! That's right folks, it's that cold out. In Celsius, that translates into an air temperature of -19, feels like *drum roll please* -31. Time to break out your long underwear and envy those lucky enough to live in a more southern place.

 

[silverhaze269]

So I feel like this is starting to get like a blog...dunno how I feel about that...but at the same time, I don't want to just let this fizzle out, so here I am...updating in a snow storm!

After reading the reviews about the new Wild Africa Trek tour (in a thread of the same name...or similar), I think I'm pretty much ready to sign up. It's hard to justify the $$$, but being the animal lover that I am, it'll be really hard to pass the opportunity up. So far they're only booking till the end of April, so I'm going to have to wait a little while longer to see if they'll extend it to May.

Also, my mom really wants my fiance to see LaNuba. We got to see it on our December 07 trip, and we fell in love with it I've seen about 4 Cirque productions to date, and LaNuba is my favourite. My fiance has never seen it, and has only seen one other Cirque production. I'd love to take her, but she's not willing to justify the cost, and it'll be really hard for me to shell out another $232 for the both of us to see it, especially if we do the Wild Africa Trek tour. I'm thinking unless my parents are willing to pay for both of us to go, then we can't

There's really no other Disney-related news to update about...I've been doing a lot of "Disney dreaming" lately though...the weather has been pretty cold and wintery here, so I've often found myself escaping to the DIS to ignore my surroundings

 

[Aburns8]

I don't blame you for dreaming about your vacation. La Nouba is awesome! I think that your fiance will love it. If you have the money, I say do both!

 

[fadingjamie]

I linked over from the May Countdown thread because we're going May 19-25 for my university graduation too! Congrats on both the engagement and upcoming graduation. I know how you feel about being on here all the time when you should be doing something else. hehe Subscribing!

 

[silverhaze269]

I linked over from the May Countdown thread because we're going May 19-25 for my university graduation too! Congrats on both the engagement and upcoming graduation. I know how you feel about being on here all the time when you should be doing something else. hehe Subscribing!

Congrats on your upcoming graduation too! And welcome to the DIS! I'm sure you'll find lots of stuff on here to help make your trip as awesome as can be

 

[silverhaze269]

I don't blame you for dreaming about your vacation. La Nouba is awesome! I think that your fiance will love it. If you have the money, I say do both!

I was talking with my mom the other night, and she mentioned that my fiance's birthday is coming up...so...there might be some Disney magic in the air for La Nouba

 

[mickeystoontown]

Hey girl! I followed your link over from the May Countdown thread.

Let's see what I wanted to comment on.........

1) Space Mountain: After the refurb last year, the ride is a lot smoother than before.

2) Congratulations on your engagement! I think it's cute how both of you had a proposal in the works.

3) I would love to do the Wild Africa Trek. I don't know what the minimum age is but I'm thinking my 13 year old would be too young.

4) LaNouba! Fantastic! Super! Outstanding! Love it! I would love to go back again this trip and am trying to get it worked into our itinerary.

Keep yourself bundles up against those cold temperatures. It's 20 here today and we feel like we are about to die. Especially since it was 73 just two days ago.

 

[silverhaze269]

Hey girl! I followed your link over from the May Countdown thread.

Let's see what I wanted to comment on.........

1) Space Mountain: After the refurb last year, the ride is a lot smoother than before.

2) Congratulations on your engagement! I think it's cute how both of you had a proposal in the works.

3) I would love to do the Wild Africa Trek. I don't know what the minimum age is but I'm thinking my 13 year old would be too young.

4) LaNouba! Fantastic! Super! Outstanding! Love it! I would love to go back again this trip and am trying to get it worked into our itinerary.

Keep yourself bundles up against those cold temperatures. It's 20 here today and we feel like we are about to die. Especially since it was 73 just two days ago.

1. I checked out a thread in which the majority of the posts were about how much more rough it has gotten since the refurb...but I dunno...I certianly don't want to re-injure myself...the last thing I want to do is go around WDW with an injured back

2. Thanks!

3. I thought the age restriction was 6 or 7, so I think a 13 year old would have no problem...I think their biggest concern is having people be able to fit in the harness stuff. You should call and ask, but I think he'd be fine