Have fun storming the castle! A Feb. 2010 PTR - Mods I can be closed now!

[eliz991]

Hello! (ahem...ahem....taps microphone...is this thing on?)

I'm Elizabeth and I'm fairly new around here (although I have been lurking since June-ish). I'm planning a trip with my friend Donna Sue for February 13-20, 2010, staying at the WL. We're celebrating Donna Sue's birthday!

A little background about us...which will probably be all for tonight, I'll try to start getting into actual plans tomorrow.

I'm Elizabeth...oh I said that right? My user name might have given me away anyhow. I just turned 40 in September. I have been married for about a year and a half to a wonderful guy named Tony. We went to Disney World with my sister and her family in July for 2.5 days. That was more than enough time for my husband and just a warm-up for me!

Donna Sue is a dear friend of mine who was actually Tony's friend first - she used to be his next door neighbor. We work out together and drink quite a bit of champagne together. Probably more champagne than working out. She's single, has one adult son, and will be 56 on February 17. She loves Disney but has never been to Disney World.

Sounds like a match made in heaven, no? Oh - and I am an obsessive planner and Donna Sue prefers no more than light consultation about plans. She trusts me to plan a good trip - which is fabulous, but I need the DIS so I don't mess it up!

Okay, we're off to a bit of a boring start but there is the cast of characters. I'll sign off with a picture - this is from a trip we took to Italy with my husband (then BF) in 2006. I'm the brunette, Donna Sue is the blonde. My husband is the gladiator. Okay, not really, Tony is taking the picture - the gladiator is a live prop for tourists.

 

[eliz991]

Okay, I just noticed something about the picture I posted above. The first time(s) I saw it I remember thinking, "hey, the gladiator must have liked Donna Sue better than me because he has his arm around her." Earlier today I looked at it and...well...it it just me or does it look like he is about to slice off her, um, left bosom?

More later - it's easy for me to DIS at work but hard to actually write long segments. Next post I will explain exactly how and why two middle-aged (ugh - am I really middle aged?) women constitute a "princess trip."

If you're out there and reading, please post! It's bad enough that I occasionally talk to myself - typing to myself is too much to bear, even for me.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Hi, Elizabeth! Saw your link on Rosie's thread and decided to join the fun. Sounds like a fabulous trip!

By the way, we have a touristy pic like the one above from Rome - only the gladiator is not looking as though he's about to slice off someone's breast!

I've never been first on board for a PTR before!!

 

[michaelwilliammidd]

Sounds like a great trip! How cool to take someone who loves Disney but has never been to WDW before. It's always so exciting to show people new things at Disney. I ,too the extreme delight (I'm sure) of those around me, am always trying to talk friends and co workers into taking a trip! Can't wait to hear more about your plans.

 

[jordanyosh]

yo! here now.

 

[AlohaPolynesian]

I'm joining in!

 

[eliz991]

Hi, Elizabeth! Saw your link on Rosie's thread and decided to join the fun. Sounds like a fabulous trip!

By the way, we have a touristy pic like the one above from Rome - only the gladiator is not looking as though he's about to slice off someone's breast!

I've never been first on board for a PTR before!!

I'm so glad you're here!

Maybe he was having a bad day...we had been awake for like 30 hours at this point so the three of us were all loopy! I'm going to have to point that out to Donna Sue sometime - I bet she's never noticed either.

I wonder how you get that job - I mean they don't talk - do you just have to be photogenic? Or do you have to provide your own costume? Or maybe it's volunteer - are they just random Roman citizens who like to dress up and pretend they are gladiators?

 

[eliz991]

Sounds like a great trip! How cool to take someone who loves Disney but has never been to WDW before. It's always so exciting to show people new things at Disney. I ,too the extreme delight (I'm sure) of those around me, am always trying to talk friends and co workers into taking a trip! Can't wait to hear more about your plans.

Thanks for joining in!

Donna Sue trusts me mostly because of my over-planning of our trip to Italy mentioned above (the only time she and I have traveled together). I'm not an expert on WDW by far - I was 6 the first time I went and we weren't there very long last summer - but I'm hoping the boards and people like you can help me with the plans!

 

[eliz991]

yo! here now.

Jordan's here! Yay!

 

[eliz991]

I'm joining in!

I love the quote in your signature!

I'm off to check out your PTR now...

 

[eliz991]

Okay now that I have gathered you all here...I have something important to tell you....

I changed my mind. No, not about the trip, and not about writing a PTR, just about what I was going to post about next. I am in the mood to think about plans right now, so plans today, more old stories and irrelevant pictures another time.

Also, I use too many ellipses and parentheticals. Just so you know. I don't want to start our relationship off on anything less than the truth.

So, while someone is still paying attention, I'm going to go through my current plans. I have so many questions that we'll do a day at a time for now. Onward!

OH! Also - I need a new organizational system. Right now I have one manila folder. Clearly insufficient. I have heard of the passporter but I don't know what it is, and I know some people use binders (Jordan!) but I don't know what sections they have. I organized my wedding in a redwell/expandable file folder/whatever you want to call it with individual manila folders for each subject but that seems a little too business-like for Disney. Suggestions?

Okay, day one. They moved our flight from 7:30 am to 7:00 am. That means we will have to leave for the airport at 5 by my airport rules (so thankful my husband is not coming with us, he never goes to the airport early enough for me!). The flight is about 2 hours so we won't sleep on the plane.

We land at MCO at 10 am so I am banking on being at the WL around noon. We'll probably grab something to eat at Roaring Fork (well I will, I eat frequently. Donna Sue doesn't eat as much as I do). Hopefully our room will be ready and our bags and grocery order will arrive soon after. I'm considering having something delivered to the room to surprise Donna Sue but I don't know what. I also might do something on her actual birthday which is Wednesday - again, suggestions are welcome.

I figure we will go to the MK - first day, everyone wants to see the castle right? Tony and I took a similar-timed flight in July and from the Dolphin we got to the MK around 2:30 or 3. Donna and I are probably faster but still I'm viewing this as an afternoon to wander around, check out the layout, find a photopass guy and get a card, etc. Maybe go on a ride or two but not the big ones, no point waiting in line at the most crowded time of day. We have ADRs for Hoop-de-doo Revue at 9:30. Kind of late, but I heard that there were fewer kids at the latest show. (I know, it's Disney, and hey I love kids, but I'm not going out of my way to eat dinner with 100 of them.) The CM who took my ressie said we should get there at 9.

So here is my big question for day one - spectro is at 7, wishes is at 8. Is there any way we can see wishes and make it to Ft. Wilderness on the boat in time? Or should we leave after Spectro? Or maybe even leave before and hang at the hotel prior to leaving for FW? I'm afraid if we do that Donna Sue won't want to go back out and of course HDD is paid for already.

Also, this will be a long day for us. Although, with the time change, it will only be 8:30 in our minds so I figure we can make it through the show/dinner, go back to the Lodge, Donna Sue can go to sleep and I can go wander around. (I don't sleep well. Or early.) But maybe it would be better to re-do our ADR and go to an earlier show - I think there are 3, right?

That was a very vague "plan" but that's the level of detail I'm at right now.

Help!

 

[AlohaPolynesian]

Plan looks like fun so far! As far as binders, folders, etc. are concerned, I just have a notebook. I've always wanted to make a binder but I just can't figure out enough stuff to put in it. I might actually do it though when I get home since I will probably be bored until my trip happens!

What about a basket for Donna Sue? I have been slowly picking up things I see on sale and plan on doing that for my niece and nephew before they go on their trip. I'll give the baskets to them before they go to get them in the spirit! I know it's easier to find kid stuff, but maybe you could so something similar for your friend?

As for Ft Wilderness boat, I have NO idea how long it takes to get over there. We did a horseback ride there a few years back but came from a rental car place on their shuttle, lol. I bet if you went on the transportation board they could totally help you out!

 

[michaelwilliammidd]

Sounds like a great plan to kick things off! The thing that would worry me about sticking around for Wishes and then leaving for FT. Wilderness is that when Wishes is over, I am afraid that you and EVERYONE else will be trying to leave the park. However, if you just stay for Spectro then make your way out you'll probably have pretty free reign as everyone else will be staying back for Wishes. I wouldn't risk it if it were me, as you said HDD has already been paid for so that's a pretty big risk. I also don't think there is any need to move HDD to an earlier time, I'm sure you guys will be fine, like you said you can head back to WL as soon as it's over.

 

[jordanyosh]

As far as organizing goes, the binder works for me. I put flight confirmations, package confirmations, ADR confirmations, itineraries, spreadsheets, menus in the binder. Some people use their Iphone or Blackberry. I think you choose whatever gets you excited when you think about doing it.

I hate being late so I would skip Wishes and head over after Spectro.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Think Jordan said it best:

I think you choose whatever gets you excited when you think about doing it.

But I'll share my 2 cents anyway. Would probably not plan Hoop-dee-Doo the first night, unless not going to a park or attending an earlier show (did that make sense?). We've done all the show times and even now as adults without kids, prefer the 7:15 - the cast seems to enjoy that show the most (from the times we've been in attendance since 1982!). The 5:15 show definitely has more young ones - we've not found the 7:15 to have as many very little ones, with the 9:30 even less. Aw, what the heck, I'm old and 9:30 is too late!!!

The water launch takes about 15/20 mins, but it's the crowds and wait after Spectro and/or Wishes, especially Wishes (as michaelwilliammidd mentioned), so it would be tight.

Well, we are probably the least likely sort of Disney nuts - we went twice a yr from 1981 until the late '90's, then once a yr until 2004, then bought an AP - and you know what that means!

Over the years bought one Passporter and it drove me nuts - heavy, awkward and lots of misinformation. Honestly, I don't understand how guests use that thing.

So, I simply put everything into a word doc: Park hours, EMH'ss, Spectro and Fantasmic days, our park days and ADR's - usually not more than 2 pages and we glance over it each evening & morning, then decide what we feel like doing that day. Generally we follow our plan, but we're flexible and like to go with the flow, so sometimes we decide to take whichever bus comes along. Our plans also depend on where we're staying - in the 80's and 90's we stayed at monorail resorts, then branched out to CBR when it was new in 1988, then the EPCOT resorts and in 2004 tried POP for a few short December trips, but went back to the GF & Polynesian. Oh, we've stayed at all but one moderate at least a few times....back to FQ in Feb.

Maybe we've been going for so long that it's not necessary, but we never did any more than what we do now. We rarely stand in a line longer than 10/15 mins, see everything we want to see (which is just about everything! ). Every visit has been the best yet!

Geesh, I'm babbling this morning!!! Enjoying your PTR - more, please!

 

[eliz991]

What about a basket for Donna Sue? I have been slowly picking up things I see on sale and plan on doing that for my niece and nephew before they go on their trip. I'll give the baskets to them before they go to get them in the spirit! I know it's easier to find kid stuff, but maybe you could so something similar for your friend?

As for Ft Wilderness boat, I have NO idea how long it takes to get over there. We did a horseback ride there a few years back but came from a rental car place on their shuttle, lol. I bet if you went on the transportation board they could totally help you out!

I like the idea about the basket...something I could give her at the airport even. I'm not worried about it being too kid-like, this is our trip to act like kids (which is why it's the princess trip - Donna Sue was wondering if we were too old to book CRT and I told her, "You're never too old to be a princess!") I'm thinking cute notebook, pens...she loves things that light up and blink....

I really want to make this special for her - partially so I will have someone to go with in the future and partially because she has had some crappy birthdays the past few years and I am a huge huge birthday person. I celebrate mine for a week per year! (This year I turned 40 and had 3-4 different celebrations - plus bought myself a very expensive bottle of champagne.) So I want to make her birthday special.

I didn't even know there was a transportation board - yay, more ways to waste time!

Thanks for the help, Aloha!

 

[eliz991]

Sounds like a great plan to kick things off! The thing that would worry me about sticking around for Wishes and then leaving for FT. Wilderness is that when Wishes is over, I am afraid that you and EVERYONE else will be trying to leave the park. However, if you just stay for Spectro then make your way out you'll probably have pretty free reign as everyone else will be staying back for Wishes. I wouldn't risk it if it were me, as you said HDD has already been paid for so that's a pretty big risk. I also don't think there is any need to move HDD to an earlier time, I'm sure you guys will be fine, like you said you can head back to WL as soon as it's over.

That's what I was worried about - I'm pretty good at worming my way through crowds but I'm also a little claustrophobic with too many people in a small space. Funny thing is I lived in NY for 6 years and had to take the subway at rush hour - you would think I would have gotten over it.

I think leaving before Wishes will be the way to go...we can always see it another night....no need to start off a trip stressed out! Thanks for the advice Michael...um William...um, well, thanks!

 

[eliz991]

As far as organizing goes, the binder works for me. I put flight confirmations, package confirmations, ADR confirmations, itineraries, spreadsheets, menus in the binder. Some people use their Iphone or Blackberry. I think you choose whatever gets you excited when you think about doing it.

I hate being late so I would skip Wishes and head over after Spectro.

The secret of the binder has been revealed.....

I can't stand to be late. Unfortunately my husband didn't grow up with the same need to be everywhere an hour early so we are often 10 minutes late (which is early to him and horrid to me). He has gotten a lot better now and usually will just leave to go to the movies or the airport whenever I tell him to go. Only took me this many years to train him...we met in 2002!

Meanwhile I was the kid who was the first one at every birthday party and the first one picked up too! So I think we will head over after Spectro assuming we don't change the time. Heck maybe we will actually leave earlier and stop at the lodge if we want to freshen up for dinner. I don't really think she would skip something she has already paid me for. And neither of us is likely to pass up "free" wine.

 

[eliz991]

Think Jordan said it best:

But I'll share my 2 cents anyway. Would probably not plan Hoop-dee-Doo the first night, unless not going to a park or attending an earlier show (did that make sense?). We've done all the show times and even now as adults without kids, prefer the 7:15 - the cast seems to enjoy that show the most (from the times we've been in attendance since 1982!). The 5:15 show definitely has more young ones - we've not found the 7:15 to have as many very little ones, with the 9:30 even less. Aw, what the heck, I'm old and 9:30 is too late!!!

The water launch takes about 15/20 mins, but it's the crowds and wait after Spectro and/or Wishes, especially Wishes (as michaelwilliammidd mentioned), so it would be tight.

Well, we are probably the least likely sort of Disney nuts - we went twice a yr from 1981 until the late '90's, then once a yr until 2004, then bought an AP - and you know what that means!

Over the years bought one Passporter and it drove me nuts - heavy, awkward and lots of misinformation. Honestly, I don't understand how guests use that thing.

So, I simply put everything into a word doc: Park hours, EMH'ss, Spectro and Fantasmic days, our park days and ADR's - usually not more than 2 pages and we glance over it each evening & morning, then decide what we feel like doing that day. Generally we follow our plan, but we're flexible and like to go with the flow, so sometimes we decide to take whichever bus comes along. Our plans also depend on where we're staying - in the 80's and 90's we stayed at monorail resorts, then branched out to CBR when it was new in 1988, then the EPCOT resorts and in 2004 tried POP for a few short December trips, but went back to the GF & Polynesian. Oh, we've stayed at all but one moderate at least a few times....back to FQ in Feb.

Maybe we've been going for so long that it's not necessary, but we never did any more than what we do now. We rarely stand in a line longer than 10/15 mins, see everything we want to see (which is just about everything! ). Every visit has been the best yet!

Geesh, I'm babbling this morning!!! Enjoying your PTR - more, please!

You're not babbling at all ~ I appreciate all the advice! If it were just me, I would stay with 9:30 but I am going to ask Donna Sue today what she would prefer. She is older than me after all. Most of the time in Italy we would walk her back to the hotel after dinner and she would go to bed and Tony and I would stay out for a few more hours. So I'll give her the choice assuming I can make the change. 7:15 might be better for her. (5:15 is not dinner time as far as I'm concerned...that's more like happy hour! )

I do have an excel spreadsheet I made (this is a big deal for me - I'm a lawyer, I generally don't do numbers or spreadsheets) with the park times, ADR #s etc. But I am pretty anal and want to keep all the back up stuff with it as well, so I may have a back-up binder. So far I only have the first four days' parks planned, after that we'll have to see what we liked (and where we're eating) and be a little more flexible.

 

[eliz991]

Hey look - I'm down to 99 days! Double digits baby!



Thank you all again for reading and chiming in - I really do appreciate all the advice!

I was driving back to work after lunch today and noticed a big group of teenagers in yellow shirts and khaki shorts/pants. I thought they were a brazilian tour group until I realized there wasn't anyone in the front with a yellow flag.

Day two coming soon...you know, unless I get distracted by some other disney story...ooh look, a quarter!