How my "quick trip" turned in to 17 days 🤭 WDW/Universal/ Seaworld AK Kidani + Coronado + Cabana Bay

[sstilch]

Hi guys

Super excited to be writing this pre-trip and then eventually trip report! I will start by introducing the team players on this adventure. There is my son, Avery, who is 6 and has never seen a stranger in his life. He's been to Disneyland 5 times and Disneyworld twice and he will tell anyone who will listen all about his favorite rides. Don't even get him started on "Disco Yeti" lol He's positive if imagineers tried hard enough they could fix him HIs favorite Disney movie fluctuates but he really likes the Pixar ones (Inside Out, Monsters Inc, Toy Story) and he is really digging Big City Greens right now. Then there is my husband, Joe who does tourism for a living. He lets me take the lead and is happy to partake in whatever crazy plan I come up with. He loves the little mermaid and lion king, some more of the classics. And as for me, I am Sierra, the writer of this hopefully funny, entertaining and informative trip and dining report. I manage Veterinary Hospitals for a living and obsess over Disney in my free time. It's whatevs. I have watched the Rescuers over 1000 times and I have no regrets. YOLO I guess. And now Princess and the frog is trying to take the lead. I'm gonna post a pic of some amazing cupcakes I got when we were there in Aug 2023 from Waterside Bakes. Here's some pics so you know I didn't make us up

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For this trip, it was totally gonna be short.... but that was when I booked it on a whim back in November with a pretty great promotion they had going on (I keep trying to apply new offers but none are as good, which I guess is a win for me but I was being greedy lol). THEN Universal announced Epic Universe was gonna open right before our trip. So I was going to do a shortened version of Disneyworld (like 5 days) and some days at Universal Studios but my husband totally wasn't having that so we ended up with 8 days at Disney and 3 at Universal. Please don't ask me how it got even longer..... JK ask me because I wanna tell haha I wanted the free waterpark day, but traveling from Arizona was not gonna get us a flight that arrived early enough to take advantage of that offer. So I decided to add on 2 days prior to our "real" reservation so when we checked in for the 2nd time, we would already be on property and could utilize the water park. (planning on choosing Blizzard Beach, let me know if that's the right choice). Then I thought heck, why not add in Seaworld, and an additional day at Epic Universe (for an exorbinant price I might add but I think YOLO is gonna have to be my theme of this trip lol). So what we are now at, and will not be adding in any additional days because I'm broke now and work is gonna think I quit/died if I am gone longer than this, is 2 days at a suite at Animal Kingdom Kidani Village followed by 8 days in a standard room at Coronado Spring Resort followed by 7 days at Universal Cabana Bay Beach Resort. We are also going to be doing the standard dining plan and will likely be 10-15 pounds heavier by the end of the trip. I will remember my waist fondly during flashbacks

As of now, ADR's are as follows (let a girl know if I'm missing a "must see" or choosing poorly. I've done that once before lol)
Jiko
Topolinos breakfast
Roundup Rodeo
Ohana
Toledo
50's Prime Time Fantasmic dining
Storybook Dining
Tusker House
Chef Art Smiths Homecoming
Via Napoli

Trip dates are June 6- June 23rd. Hope you join me for this wild ride

 

[Mambo Junkie]

We are adding to our trip as well. Splitting between the 2 theme parks. Lots of money, but it may be a 1 and done - at least that's what we keep telling ourselves, lol. Our Disney stay is going to be short, and on the fence about the water park. I'm hearing mixed reviews about the crowds. May just skip and do Cabana Bay instead. We are currently planning to do either BB or TL first day, and park hop on our check out day. However, we are moving over to Helios, so my thought is to skip the water park and make it a theme park day, and on check out, head over to Helios and go to Cabana Bay instead? Not sure yet. Going in June and hoping for guidance from trip reports!
ETA: Thoroughly enjoyed Summer House on the Lake at Disney Springs, and we are doing La Hacienda at Epcot, during fireworks. We enjoyed the view last trip, and the meal was one of the best we have ever had at Disney World. Ever!

 

[sstilch]

We are adding to our trip as well. Splitting between the 2 theme parks. Lots of money, but it may be a 1 and done - at least that's what we keep telling ourselves, lol. Our Disney stay is going to be short, and on the fence about the water park. I'm hearing mixed reviews about the crowds. May just skip and do Cabana Bay instead. We are currently planning to do either BB or TL first day, and park hop on our check out day. However, we are moving over to Helios, so my thought is to skip the water park and make it a theme park day, and on check out, head over to Helios and go to Cabana Bay instead? Not sure yet. Going in June and hoping for guidance from trip reports!
ETA: Thoroughly enjoyed Summer House on the Lake at Disney Springs, and we are doing La Hacienda at Epcot, during fireworks. We enjoyed the view last trip, and the meal was one of the best we have ever had at Disney World. Ever!

I do this fun little thing where I don't add up the money between Disney and Universal (or flights for that matter) and then convince myself that I didn't spend too much haha Looks great when you look at each bill separately My kiddo loves waterparks and had the time of his life at Great Wolf Lodge so I figure if it is free it may be worth it even for just a little bit. I also rented a cabana, which I can cancel if we decide to not go, but I figure I can catch up on rest while him and Dad do some swimming ha. Cabana Bay may be a great alternative to the water park though, and I think at Universal you can pool hop if I am correct? Helios looks beautiful but for 7 nights I'd have to sell my home LOL Are you doing Epic Universe?

Also, Summer house looks so good and we may have one free night to add an ADR so it was between Summer house and Cake bake shop. For Hacienda, is the view for fireworks really good?? We have top tier mexican food in AZ so I tend to shy away from that on vacation due to disappointment but may be worth the risk!

 

[Mambo Junkie]

I'm doing the same, just looking at the individual bills, or paying off something and looking at just what I still owe, lol. Much more painless that way. We are doing a 2 night stay at Helios (going at least 1 day to Epic) then switching to Sapphire Falls. The standard room is even cheaper than Cabana Bay room, plus you have access to the water taxi. Of course, I added the kids suite to it so that blew the great rate. I've been going to Disney World since 1972 and keep saying this may be my last trip. I'll be going 3 times in a year and am kicking myself for not buying the annual passes. Only this trip has been planned. The other two were just "we have a long 4 day weekend, what are we going to do?"

 

[DLo]

Following along . Looking forward to reading more .

 

[Woodview]

Super excited to be writing this pre-trip and then eventually trip report! I will start by introducing the team players on this adventure. There is my son, Avery, who is 6 and has never seen a stranger in his life. He's been to Disneyland 5 times and Disneyworld twice and he will tell anyone who will listen all about his favorite rides. Don't even get him started on "Disco Yeti" lol He's positive i

I am lost already Avery is 6 But has never seen a stranger Yet He has been to Disneyland 5 times He must have seen strangers Please explain

 

[LuvMyEAR]

I am fighting the urge to be consumed with envy, and will eagerly wait for your pre-trip and trip report instalments! I love how your quick trip has become a victim of “scope creep”. The very first time we made a trip with our daughters way back in 1994, we had booked a week. But after reading everything I could find about WDW, I managed to persuade DH to extend it to 2 weeks. Best. Decision. Ever.

 

[mnscp]

I am lost already Avery is 6 But has never seen a stranger Yet He has been to Disneyland 5 times He must have seen strangers Please explain

 

[sstilch]

I am lost already Avery is 6 But has never seen a stranger Yet He has been to Disneyland 5 times He must have seen strangers Please explain

By me saying he hasnt ever seen a stranger I mean he makes everyone a friend. He's a talkative little boy and makes friends easily.

 

[sstilch]

I am fighting the urge to be consumed with envy, and will eagerly wait for your pre-trip and trip report instalments! I love how your quick trip has become a victim of “scope creep”. The very first time we made a trip with our daughters way back in 1994, we had booked a week. But after reading everything I could find about WDW, I managed to persuade DH to extend it to 2 weeks. Best. Decision. Ever.

I am the absolute worst at sticking to a timeline for a trip haha and every trip gets just a tiny bit longer. And I'm seriously considering buying in to DVC at this point and probably need someone to talk me off a ledge

 

[Woodview]

By me saying he hasnt ever seen a stranger I mean he makes everyone a friend. He's a talkative little boy and makes friends easily.

Thank you for the clarification now it makes sense