Hippogriffs and Ewoks and a Mouse Oh My!! Two Canadian Girls take on Central Florida

[fallen_angel727]

Good afternoon Everyone!!! I have tried my hand a PTR's in the past and gotten side tracked (I think I have a bit of self diagnosed ADD to tell you the truth ), however, this time I promise will be different...provided I get some followers this time.

Now I shall introduce the two Canadian Girls who will be starring in this trip...

First there's me

I'm Ashley, 25, a student and lover of all things Disney. This pic was taken in Spain for anyone who recognizes Sagrada Familia in the background. Oh and I am an avid supporter of having Spain added as a country in EPCOT. A quick background about myself, I'm studying to be a veterinary technician, I'm newly married (6 weeks ago in fact), my favourite Disney movie is Aladdin and my favourite character is Mr. Penguin
This will be trip number 5 for myself, however it will be the first time staying onsite and having a dining plan.

This here is Lisa, 26, my best friend since grade 9 and not as Disney obsessed as as myself but as always dreamed of going to Disney World. This will be trip number 1 for her and might I add that I'm possibly more excited for her to go than she is She's getting married this month and her flight down is her wedding gift from the best bridesmaid ever (ME! ...ok ok I might be a bit biased)

Now during my last trip in '09 I received a wonderful surprise from my boyfriend at the time...a proposal, and 2 years later I decided I should go back to WDW. Alas DH began a new job and is looking for a new (better) job a bit more tailored to his field which means for the next year or so us traveling together must be kept to weekend trips close by. So I asked Lisa to come with me...and being the wonderful friend I am, paid for her flight as her wedding gift. Here's a pic of the two of us together at my wedding (the result of the Disney proposal)

So our trip is booked for June 5 - 12, 2012 (I know its a ways away but I needed to start this PTR to keep myself occupied before the trip). Between now and then we have 2 semesters of school (me) and a wedding (Lisa's)...and hopefully after the wedding I can talk Lisa into joining the DIS and helping me with this PTR and then the TR after...

Up next...our tentative plan and the specifics

 

[fallen_angel727]

First let me say, it is exceptionally hard to type when there is a cat laying across your body using your wrist as a pillow...just a side note (the kitten in question is my baby Ivy, who along with her big sister Harley, may appear from time to time in tis PTR)

Anyway, onto the planning

As I have stated we are from Canada and we will be traveling June 5-12, 2011. We have booked a 10am flight out of Detroit, MI (about a half hour drive from our houses in Windsor, Ontario), so provided we leave on time we will be at POP Century by 2pm.

So, like I said we'll be staying at POP, mind you, this is almost guaranteed to change. I'm looking at All Star Movies also...and maybe even a moderate if we happen to score free dining. But for now, We will be at POP, no special requests were made except for a first timer button for Lisa.

We also have decided on the DDP and a trip over to Universal at Lisa's request for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Let me pause here and explain how big of Harry Potter fans we are. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows pt. 2 had a special midnight showing July 15th which we attended. The movie was followed by a 4 hour sleep, then up to the hall to decorate for my wedding, onto my rehearsal and dinner, sleep again then the wedding the next day, needless to say we were exhausted but it was all worth it.

So you may have guessed the Hippogriffs in the title are the Harry Potter reference and obviously the mouse is Mickey...but Ewoks? Yes my friends in my haste to book our flights I completely forgot about Star Wars Weekend, and booked June 5-12, which covers the last weekend of Star Wars Weekends (provided it's the same as previous years...last 2 weeks of May and first 2 of June). So needless to say I'm getting pretty excited for all of the extras.

Up next...the food plan

 

[fallen_angel727]

so with the unexpected addition of Star Wars Weekend I have been playing around with our park days and I have come up with

Arrival day - MK asap for an early dinner some attractions and Wishes to kick of the first timer's trip

Thursday June 7 - Universal and IOA 1 day/2 park passes with transportation booked through dreams unlimited (anyone with any info about this deal please let me know where to get tickets, how this works exactly etc)

Friday June 8 - DHS for Star Wars Weekend provided it is still on this weekend.

Monday June 11 - hopping, specifically back to DHS for regual attractions missed during Star Wars, then back to MK for a final Wishes

The rest of the days will be Disney Park days (using our 6 day hopper pass) to be decided unpon release of park hours and EMH. So while I'm waiting on park hours I've busied myself with dining plans, so far we have...

Arrival day - Crystal Palace Dinner
DHS Day - 50's Prime Time Dinner
AK Day - Donald's Safari Breakfast, Dinner in DTD at a QS location probably Earl of Sandwich or Wolf Gang Puck Express
EPCOT Day - Yakatori House lunch for some sushi then Marrakesh dinner
MK Day - The Wave Breakfast and The Plaza Dinner
Hopping Day (final day) - Ohana Breakfast
Universal - we're hoping for an early 3 Broomsticks lunch (IOA), then maybe a later dinner somewhere in Universal

So that's the plan so far...more to come

 

[kokotg]

I'm in!

I keep trying to figure out a way to get to universal that same week next year, because my oldest DS is turning 11...and every kid needs to go to hogwarts when he turns 11, right? I doubt it will happen, but I can dream.

Anyway--great start!

 

[fallen_angel727]

I'm in!

I keep trying to figure out a way to get to universal that same week next year, because my oldest DS is turning 11...and every kid needs to go to hogwarts when he turns 11, right? I doubt it will happen, but I can dream.

Anyway--great start!

Dreams Unlimited offers a package that includes pick up and drop off at your Disney resort plus a 1 day/2 park pass to IOA and Universal for, I believe $129 a person...not bad considering you get both parks and transportation

 

[kokotg]

Dreams Unlimited offers a package that includes pick up and drop off at your Disney resort plus a 1 day/2 park pass to IOA and Universal for, I believe $129 a person...not bad considering you get both parks and transportation

ooh...interesting! This would probably actually be a quickie trip just to Universal for just me and DS. Again, this imaginary trip, I mean. But, hey, maybe a distant relative will die and leave me just enough money for the trip...

 

[fallen_angel727]

When DH got home he rolled his eyes and tossed my mail over. I thought it was my Visa bill (the one with the trip deposit)

Nope it was the 2011 planning DVD I asked for a few weeks ago!!! Now to watch it when I get home from work (worst 7:30-11:30 shift ever)

 

[fallen_angel727]

So tomorrow I run the itinerary past Lisa...*fingers crossed* that she likes it lol

 

[fallen_angel727]

hmm I'm starting to feel a bit crazy talking to myself here...oh well

 

[kokotg]

hmm I'm starting to feel a bit crazy talking to myself here...oh well

Keep talking; I want to hear more! We can just keep filling each other's reports up with comments until people start wondering what all the chatter's about and join in

 

[fallen_angel727]

DH and I had planned to go to Disney World for our honeymoon back in July, however we got the chance of a lifetime to go to Barcelona instead...so for my one lone reader (kokotg...hopefully you have fellow readers soon) I have decided to add some pics from the honeymoon to pass the time (sorry in advance that they're so big...and that there are so many!!)

So here we go...a 1.5 hour flight from Detroit to JFK, and then 6 more hours from JFK to Barcelona and Aaron (DH) and I were finally in Spain...

Beach Shots...

Some City Shots...

The Olympic Stadium...

Segrada Familia...

Aaron doing his Gollum impression (from Lord of the Rings)...

Spanish Flowers...

 

[fallen_angel727]

Well a little bit anyway...

Aaron and his octopus...

Best pastry ever is in Europe...

Aaron's Mussels...

Random Pork...

 

[fallen_angel727]

I scored us tickets to see Bon Jovi at the Olympic Stadium on our last night

Me waiting ever so patiently...

Aaron and I being...well...us

Finally...

 

[fallen_angel727]

Spanish Shoes...these are 3 of the 5 pair that I bought (much cheaper in the store than online might I add)

And that's all of our Disneymoon that wasn't. Was it worth it...yes, Europe is amazing, do I secretly wish I could have spent the 10 days at Wilderness Lodge on the DxDP...yes (shh don't tell Aaron...but I'll never get back to a Deluxe, because Aaron doesn't think they're worth the price )

OH and PS...I hate that I ave to wait 3 months to finlize my plans, the What ifs are driving me insane

 

[kokotg]

OMG--Bon Jovi in SPAIN! yes, I think even on the disboards you can be forgiven for going for that over WDW

 

[fallen_angel727]

If anyone else is reading...please feel free to comment...I think kokotg needs some company!!!

 

[fallen_angel727]

So actually I have a perdiciment...We were originally going to do MK on our Arrival day, then hop around on our last day. However now I'm thinking maybe Epcot on our arrival day so we get 2 Epcot days and Split our hoping day between MK and DHS. We can always hop over to MK if we finish up Epcot early right?

Now if only those Park hors and EMH would come already so I can see which plan works better...though I thikn I like this new one here no matter what EMH's are...hmmm

 

[fallen_angel727]

Well I STILL have no followers, hmm, this makes me sad Anyway I guess it's a good thing because I haven't been able to update in quite some time. I returned to school in September so that is taking up the majority of my time, as it is now I should be studying for exams rather then informing you all (or lack there off) of how planning is going...

Anyway news here about the trip is getting good...

some quick trip points, I wanted to switch from POP to a moderate but BFF thought it would be too expensive (if only she knew what I was actually paying to keep her price at $1500 ) She also said, in pure newbie fashion "It doesn't matter what the hotel is like we'll just be there to sleep anyway" Well she will be learning different when we have our meals at the Poly and the Contemporary won't she LOL!! Oh well maybe next time I can talk someone into stay moderate or delux with me

Now I've also been playoing around quite a bit with ADR's (when I have a chance anyway...or when I'm supposed to be studying like right now ) I posted a few questions and asked for some opinions and got...a big fat nothing. So this is what I came up with at my 180 day mark

June 5 - Restaurant Marrakesh for 6:30pm (our plan lands between 12:30 and 1 so I'm praying everything goes smoothly and we can make it to EP on time for this, we're both pretty excited to try it)

June 6 - Tusker House Breakfast 9:25am (I think we'll head over and get a FP for something before we eat, just to save some time since I couldn't get a meal before park opening)

For dinner tonight we have Boma at 6:30 then off to DTD for some shopping and general wandering (I know some might say that we're cutting our park time short, but we have two morning where we are free to hop around as we please so the goal is to come back)

June 7 - Crystal Palace Breakfast 9:55am, this is an EMH morning so I'm hoping the slightly later ADR will allow us some time in the morning

then Lunch at Kona Island Cafe for some Sushi (BFF's favourite) and a QS dinner before Wishes

June 8 - Today is Star Wars Weekend at DHS so we'll be doing a late lunch/early diner 3:55pm at Sci-Fi...this will be OOP to make room on the DDP for BFF's special surprise later in the week

June 9 - today is Harry Potter day!!!!, I don't have the tickets yet, but the nice lady from dreams unlimitied said I could book them come january (I hope so because they're a late christmas gift to my BFF - see I said I was spending much more for this trip because I'm such a good friend LOL)

All of our meals today, except maybe breakfast at everything pop will be paid for OOP

June 10 - Today is a hoping day, we're doing The Wave for breakfast in the morning, then heading to AK, then back to MK for Wishes and possibly an evening EMH

June 11 - Our last full day today we will be doing breakfast at Ohanna fairly early (8:55 I believe to be exact). From there we head to EP then over to DHS for some evening EMH a showing of Fantasmic and the F! dining package at Momma Melrose

June 12 - and today, after breakfast at everything pop and maybe a quick swim, we head for home our plane leaves at 1:22 I believe (or maybe it's 1:32...why can't airlines pick "normal" time for planes to leave...you know like 1 o'clock?