heathsf
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Nov 27, 2010
- Messages
- 1,607
I'm calling them tentative plans because I'm going with the mindset that I'm going to be [more] flexible [than usual]. 
Day 1 - August 20
Our flight leaves Newark Airport at 6:30 am so it's going to be an early morning! We're planning to leave our apartment at 4 am and park in a lot a mile from the airport. If their shuttle service is as speedy and reliable as the reviews say it is, we should be at the airport around 4:45. We probably don't need to be there that early but I am excellent at worrying and getting stressed out and just the thought of being late for a flight will make me break into a sweat. You never know what security will be like. And we can get some breakfast while we wait to board.
Our flight is supposed to land just before 9am and we'll be racing for the front of that magical express line. Schools in NJ will still be on summer vacation and I'm sure a large chunk of the passengers on this plane will be headed to the same place. This will be good rope drop practice for BF
We'll check in at Pop, quickly get ready, and head to MK. I chose our parks for each day based on recommendations by Touring Plans and Easy WDW. I was excited that MK was recommended for our first day since it's considered by most people to be the essence of WDW. I know BF feels that way. I do to some extent, but Spaceship Earth really does it for me more so than the Castle. I also don't think that MK will be BF's favorite park, so I'm hoping things will just get better and better for him as the trip goes on.
I know I will be checking the Lines app from my phone as soon as we land to check on wait times and FP return times. My plan is to head to Frontierland first to get FP for Splash Mountain and maybe ride it or BTMRR if wait times are reasonable. From there, I'm pretty open for whatever, as long as we can collect as many FP as possible along the way. There's nothing like having a wallet full of FP to be used in the afternoon when lines are longest!
I'm sure we'll be hungry rather early which is good because dinner is pretty early too. I don't have a CS lunch picked out. I figure I'll point out places to him as we pass by them and see if any of them tickle his fancy. Perhaps he'll enjoy getting to pick the place. I have heard good things about Columbia Harbour House lately and it apparently has some great upstairs seating for relaxing and people watching. I also really enjoyed Tortuga Tavern on my last trip.
We have a 5pm ADR at The Wave so we'll take the monorail to the CR and then take it back that way BF can see the whole route - plus I think it will be too hot to walk back.
Back at the park, MSEP is at 9pm. BF isn't interested in sitting and watching the whole parade and I'm not much of a parade person either. (Wow! One WDW-related thing that we're on the same page about!) When Spectro Magic was still playing, my favorite viewing spot was from a log on Splash Mountain. You get a pretty nice view during the outside parts of the ride.
Wishes is at 10 and at this point it may be difficult/impossible to get a spot near the exit so we'll probably watch from the Tomorrowland Bridge (not the greatest spot but it's easy to find a place just before fireworks start). If I could be one of the first people out of the park after Wishes ends, I would do that since we have a really early morning tomorrow. But I'm pretty sure things aren't going to work out that way and the park is open until 11 anyway so I suppose we'll stay until after the post-Wishes exodus.
First days are always amazing because you're FINALLY on vacation
aaaaaaaaannddd you still have the whole rest of the trip ahead of you!!!! 
Day 1 - August 20
Our flight leaves Newark Airport at 6:30 am so it's going to be an early morning! We're planning to leave our apartment at 4 am and park in a lot a mile from the airport. If their shuttle service is as speedy and reliable as the reviews say it is, we should be at the airport around 4:45. We probably don't need to be there that early but I am excellent at worrying and getting stressed out and just the thought of being late for a flight will make me break into a sweat. You never know what security will be like. And we can get some breakfast while we wait to board.
Our flight is supposed to land just before 9am and we'll be racing for the front of that magical express line. Schools in NJ will still be on summer vacation and I'm sure a large chunk of the passengers on this plane will be headed to the same place. This will be good rope drop practice for BF
We'll check in at Pop, quickly get ready, and head to MK. I chose our parks for each day based on recommendations by Touring Plans and Easy WDW. I was excited that MK was recommended for our first day since it's considered by most people to be the essence of WDW. I know BF feels that way. I do to some extent, but Spaceship Earth really does it for me more so than the Castle. I also don't think that MK will be BF's favorite park, so I'm hoping things will just get better and better for him as the trip goes on.
I know I will be checking the Lines app from my phone as soon as we land to check on wait times and FP return times. My plan is to head to Frontierland first to get FP for Splash Mountain and maybe ride it or BTMRR if wait times are reasonable. From there, I'm pretty open for whatever, as long as we can collect as many FP as possible along the way. There's nothing like having a wallet full of FP to be used in the afternoon when lines are longest!
I'm sure we'll be hungry rather early which is good because dinner is pretty early too. I don't have a CS lunch picked out. I figure I'll point out places to him as we pass by them and see if any of them tickle his fancy. Perhaps he'll enjoy getting to pick the place. I have heard good things about Columbia Harbour House lately and it apparently has some great upstairs seating for relaxing and people watching. I also really enjoyed Tortuga Tavern on my last trip.
We have a 5pm ADR at The Wave so we'll take the monorail to the CR and then take it back that way BF can see the whole route - plus I think it will be too hot to walk back.
Back at the park, MSEP is at 9pm. BF isn't interested in sitting and watching the whole parade and I'm not much of a parade person either. (Wow! One WDW-related thing that we're on the same page about!
) When Spectro Magic was still playing, my favorite viewing spot was from a log on Splash Mountain. You get a pretty nice view during the outside parts of the ride.Wishes is at 10 and at this point it may be difficult/impossible to get a spot near the exit so we'll probably watch from the Tomorrowland Bridge (not the greatest spot but it's easy to find a place just before fireworks start). If I could be one of the first people out of the park after Wishes ends, I would do that since we have a really early morning tomorrow. But I'm pretty sure things aren't going to work out that way and the park is open until 11 anyway so I suppose we'll stay until after the post-Wishes exodus.
First days are always amazing because you're FINALLY on vacation
aaaaaaaaannddd you still have the whole rest of the trip ahead of you!!!! 
I find that I'm always using lots of exclamation points when I write to other people, especially in TRs. I just get so excited talking about WDW!!! 
) And I am sure that you will still be able to do Soarin and Test Track! Only a Dis-er would consider 90 minutes after park opening to be late! 
I give you props for doing all of that though! On arrival days I definetely like to just hang around the resort and do not like to rush out to a park (I know, it is rare to find someone like me on the DIS
)
