How to Make a Disney Skeptic Fall in Love with WDW - August 2011 PTR

[FosterA]

Still following along, though I'm more of a lurker.

Anyway....loved the surprise he had for you!! I would faint if my husband says " I can't wait to go to Disney with you". I still have 90 more days until our trip, so there's hope.

Really can't wait to hear all about it and what he thinks of it all!!

 

[heathsf]

First off, I'm late, but HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

What a wonderful surprise from your BF! It looks like you've got the perfect kind of person going with you for Disney... anyone who loves a little pixie dust now and then is BOUND to love WDW.

Thanks! I hope you're right, but the funny thing is if I used "pixie dust" in a sentence like that to BF I *KNOW* I would get an eye roll for sure!

3 DAYS!!!!

Oh my gosh I know but I can't actually believe it! Tomorrow I'll be packing!!! I'm ready to start counting down the hours!

Still following along, though I'm more of a lurker.

Anyway....loved the surprise he had for you!! I would faint if my husband says " I can't wait to go to Disney with you". I still have 90 more days until our trip, so there's hope.

Really can't wait to hear all about it and what he thinks of it all!!

I swear, 90 days ago I never would have heard those words coming out of his mouth (or written in a card...whatever ) but I can definitely see that he's become more excited as it's gotten closer. He went from negative excitement to at least some! There is definitely still hope for you! I'll be following along in your PTR so I can hear about it when it finally happens to your family!!!

 

[heathsf]

Day 4 - August 23

My plans for this day are to go to HS for rope drop. Even if we go to EMH the night before, there isn't much open so there will still be plenty for us to do today plus the shows! I think BF will really enjoy the two stunt shows (Indiana Jones and Lights, Motors, Action) but I'm pretty sure he won't be too interested in American Idol Experience or Beauty and the Beast. I've actually never seen Beauty & the Beast but I've heard great things about it. I'm not dying to see it though and I'm okay with skipping it if BF isn't interested (and he won't be).

So we'll run with the bulls first thing to get a TSMM FP and then get out of there as quickly as possible to ride ToT and RnRc. On my last trip in Feb with my mom, we got FP for TSMM and then got on the standby line so we'd definitely get two rides in that day. As fun as it is, I think RnRc and ToT are even MORE fun, so that's where I'd rather spend my extra rides. I think BF will feel the same.

Now, as I'm typing this, I'm wondering if we *shouldn't* run with the bulls and instead just go right to Sunset Blvd for my two favorites. Then we can worry about a TSMM FP afterwards. They'll still be available an hour later...unless we FP RnRc or ToT and then we can't get another FP for a whole two hours - which doesn't usually happen first thing in the morning but..... Okay why is this so complicated? I should just go to the rides I enjoy more first....right? But getting a TSMM FP wouldn't take THAT long if we were at the front for RD. Opinions? I think I may post a new thread asking this question to the entire DIS community. Maybe someone will share their own experience with doing Sunset Blvd first and then getting a TSMM FP. Even if the return time is later that day it's alright because we'll be there at night for Fantasmic. Okay, I'll get back to you on this....

Moving on with our day, I'm looking forward to seeing the new Star Tours ride. I also enjoy the Great Movie Ride and I think BF will too, he's a big fan of movies. Right now he's into this idea of seeing all the movies on the IMDB Top 200 Movies of All Time list. Anyway, for the Backlot Tour, I was thinking of volunteering him for the first part of the show. He has noooooooo idea what the Backlot Tour is so I think that could be really fun for him....and me to watch!!

We have no ADRs today so we'll just use a CS credit somewhere. I'm also thinking a break at the hottest part of the day would be good. Maybe we'll go back to the hotel for some swimming and/or napping and we could even eat dinner there before going back to HS for some nighttime rides and Fantasmic! There are two shows, one at 8:30 and one at 10. I'm usually a fan of seeing the later show since crowds are lighter (plus I'll be hoping for some more rides on ToT and RnRc during the earlier show while some 8,000 people are at the Hollywood Hills Amphitheater ) Of course, if we're tired and want to end the night earlier we can see the first show. We'll just have to make sure we get in line plenty early.

And that's about it for Day 4!

 

[PrincessAmongPrinces]

Day 4 plans sound great!

I think if I were you, I would head straight to ToT and RnRc and ride those multiple times at RD. DH and I always loved those rides, and we truthfully spent most of our DHS days on or in line for those! Man, I am going to miss those rides this trip!!

 

[heathsf]

Day 4 plans sound great!

I think if I were you, I would head straight to ToT and RnRc and ride those multiple times at RD. DH and I always loved those rides, and we truthfully spent most of our DHS days on or in line for those! Man, I am going to miss those rides this trip!!

You can switch-off if you want to ride! You ride while DH waits with the kids, and then you switch so he can ride. You only have to wait on line once. I've never done it (since I don't have kids ) but it seems pretty straightforward.

 

[heathsf]

Day 5 - August 24

Today will be another day at Epcot. I'd like to arrive for RD and do Soarin' and Test Track first thing. As you may remember, when we're in Epcot on Day 2 we won't be able to do these two rides first thing because we have the Segway Tour. We also had table service for lunch and dinner which would have taken up a decent chunk of our day and I'd also planned to go back to the hotel in between the meals so I'm anticipating that we wouldn't have done *that* much on our first Epcot day. Other than the headliners, we'll just do whatever we didn't get to do here yet. Maybe we'll go back to WS and do some more exploring (with the shops and restaurants actually open this time).

We have tickets for La Nouba tonight at 6pm. Then we have dinner at Raglan Road at 8:15 after the show. On a side note, a friend took me to see a Cirque du Soleil show in NY last night: Zyrkana. It was absolutely fantastic. It was, in my opinion, the best Cirque show I've seen yet. This same friend saw La Nouba 2 years ago and said, in her opinion, it was even better than Zyrkana. So now I'm even MORE excited to see it!

I'm also super excited about the bread pudding at Raglan Road. It's supposed to be amazing.

After dinner we could do some wandering around DTD if we're up to it. Otherwise it will be bedtime so we can make another RD in the morning!

 

[Leshaface]

Day 4 sounds like a good plan! Does DHS play Fantasmic! every night during the Summer? When we went in January 2010, they only showed on two evenings and it was PACKED both days! Hoping it won't be like that for you.

I had no idea you got La Nouba tickets! We had originally bought them for our last WDW trip, but then had to get them refunded because we had changed the dates of our trip, and for some reason, never purchased for the correct date. I've been DYING to see this show. I hear it's absolutely fantastic and worth every penny!

 

[heathsf]

Day 4 sounds like a good plan! Does DHS play Fantasmic! every night during the Summer? When we went in January 2010, they only showed on two evenings and it was PACKED both days! Hoping it won't be like that for you.

I had no idea you got La Nouba tickets! We had originally bought them for our last WDW trip, but then had to get them refunded because we had changed the dates of our trip, and for some reason, never purchased for the correct date. I've been DYING to see this show. I hear it's absolutely fantastic and worth every penny!

At first, Fantasmic was only scheduled a few times per week but at the beginning of the summer they added shows so it would be playing every night, and they added a second show to some nights too!

Now you have at *least* 2 reasons to plan another WDW trip: La Nouba and Yachtsman Steakhouse!

 

[Oliquig]

That is my big question for my HS day, to TSM or not to TSM. I've heard that everyone is so focused on TSM that the other "big" rides are easy to get on early in the morning.

 

[heathsf]

That is my big question for my HS day, to TSM or not to TSM. I've heard that everyone is so focused on TSM that the other "big" rides are easy to get on early in the morning.

Here is the thread where I posed that question. A lot of people had opinions to share :
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2782395

I think I'm going to skip the FP and just ride it first thing. We just need to make sure we're towards the front of the pack at RD. Then we'll head back to Sunset Blvd to use a FP on ToT and/or RnRc and ride them. I'm hoping for 3 rides on each before the end of the day! Is that too ambitious?

 

[heathsf]

Ahhhhh!!!! I'm going to Disney World tomorrow!!!!

I can't believe it!

I opened my eyes at 6:50 this morning and just immediately starting talking to BF about how we should be in the air in 24 hours and in the Magic Kingdom in 29 hours and we could be on Splash Mountain in 30 hours and we're eating dinner at the Contemporary tomorrow AHHHHHHH!!!! When I got no response I said, "Well aren't you excited!?!?!?" His response: "I'm sleeping." Oh, yeah...I guess that explains why his eyes are closed.

Anyway, I'm so excited I don't know what to do with myself. But I have plenty of things to do today to keep myself busy, including pack! Which means it's real...it's happening...I'm going to Disney World tomorrow! Did I mention...AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

 

[FosterA]

You are soooooo lucky!!!!

wow! have a great time and be sure to take lots of notes on your trip for your report. Remember, I'm especially interested in BF's impression and what at WDW is going to "wow" him. I need all the help and ideas I can get for when I drag David to Disney in November.

Have fun

 

[heathsf]

You are soooooo lucky!!!!

wow! have a great time and be sure to take lots of notes on your trip for your report. Remember, I'm especially interested in BF's impression and what at WDW is going to "wow" him. I need all the help and ideas I can get for when I drag David to Disney in November.

Have fun

I will take lots of notes! Sitting on the bus may be a good time to "interview" him about what he thinks of everything! I will report back on all the details!

 

[heathsf]

Day 6 - August 25

We have RD at Animal Kingdom planned for today. Depending on whether or not we make it there on Monday this could be our first time hitting this park all trip! I think we'll grab FP for KS and then head to EE for a ride or two or three When I went on this in Feb (alone, since no amount of money would be enough to get my mom on this, or any roller coaster for that matter) I was blown away by how great it is! I had ridden it several times before but not for two years and I just forgot how much fun it is. Although, it's a little less fun riding alone so I'm even more excited to do it with BF! I know he'll love it. I wish the Yeti was fully functioning but what can ya do? I saw it in all its glory a few months after it first opened and that thing scared the pants off me. It was just *too* realistic looking and I was sitting in the front row. I thought it was going to claw my face off. Last time I saw the fan and strobe light which I guess is better than nothing....

I just saw the Finding Nemo musical for the first time in Feb and while I enjoyed it, I won't mind skipping it this trip as I'm pretty sure BF will be bored. But hey, maybe I'm wrong. We'll see.... I think he's more likely to enjoy Festival of the Lion King so if I had to pick one of the two, I would choose that one. I think he'll also enjoy the walking trails and maybe the bird show. I haven't seen it in five or six years.

We have dinner tonight at O'hana at 5:20. I think a break for a swim/nap/relaxing would be a good idea before dinner. After dinner we'll head to Epcot or Magic Kingdom depending what we feel like doing. Or not doing. Maybe we'll do something else entirely. We'll just have to see. (This is me trying to be flexible and pretending that I'd be okay with having an early night and not closing out one of the parks.)

This is the end of our last full day!

Day 7 - August 26

Our flight home doesn't leave until 7:25pm so we'll have a good chunk of the day to visit whatever park we'd like more of. TBD!

Then, cue crying. (Hopefully BF will be crying with me)

The Magical Express ride back to the airport just doesn't seem so magical. At all. It's actually horrible. They should change the name to Horrible Express. The only thing that might make it a little less horrible would be if BF agrees to book another trip for next summer. Right now, my chances are looking slim. But I have 7 days to change his mind! And I'm determined to do it!!!!!

 

[PrincessAmongPrinces]

Soooo JEALOUS that you leave tomorrow!!!

Have a magical, awesome, magnificent, WONDERFUL trip!!

I can't wait to read your trip report, and hopefully about how your DBF is now a fully converted Disney lover!!

 

[Leshaface]

@ Horrible Express! That's true...and another good name would be Torture Express because when you get off, people are in line to get on

OMGOSH! I can't BELIEVE you're leaving tomorrow! I'm so excited for you guys and hope that your DBF has a blast and wants to do Disney all the time...wait, are we calling him DBF or just BF? Does he get upgraded to DBF after he's been to WDW with you?! So confused!

Is the Yeti back on EE do you know? I haven't been on the Theme Parks board at ALL. Probably in a good 6-8 months.

 

[PixieMama]

If I had to choose between FotLK and FN: the musical... I'd also pick FotLK.

Just a thought: you might want to grab FPs for EE, then go ride KS. Only because the animals may be more active first thing in the morning, before it gets too hot.


You leave tomorrow! Have a safe flight and a totally magical trip!

 

[heathsf]

Soooo JEALOUS that you leave tomorrow!!!

Have a magical, awesome, magnificent, WONDERFUL trip!!

I can't wait to read your trip report, and hopefully about how your DBF is now a fully converted Disney lover!!

Thank you!!!

@ Horrible Express! That's true...and another good name would be Torture Express because when you get off, people are in line to get on

OMGOSH! I can't BELIEVE you're leaving tomorrow! I'm so excited for you guys and hope that your DBF has a blast and wants to do Disney all the time...wait, are we calling him DBF or just BF? Does he get upgraded to DBF after he's been to WDW with you?! So confused!

Is the Yeti back on EE do you know? I haven't been on the Theme Parks board at ALL. Probably in a good 6-8 months.

I've been writing BF just because it's one less letter... we'll have to see about the upgrade though ! I think the yeti is there, but he's just not moving. Sometimes there is a strobe light and a fan blowing to give the illusion that he's moving but he hasn't actually moved in a very long time

If I had to choose between FotLK and FN: the musical... I'd also pick FotLK.

Just a thought: you might want to grab FPs for EE, then go ride KS. Only because the animals may be more active first thing in the morning, before it gets too hot.


You leave tomorrow! Have a safe flight and a totally magical trip!

Good tip, thanks! I've actually heard that before so maybe we should do it first.

 

[heathsf]

THANK YOU!!!! to everyone who has been reading along, commenting, and helping me pass the time until my trip was finally here! I just finished packing and BF is almost done. He says he's an 8 on the excitement scale (with 10 being the highest). Hopefully when we wake up at 3:45am tomorrow he'll be even higher! Oh, me? I'm a 52.

I will post a link to a TR here when I get back. I may check the DIS from my phone once or twice but will be using Twitter to post updates and pictures throughout the day. Follow me @heathsf

Thanks again for following along!

 

[Leshaface]

THANK YOU!!!! to everyone who has been reading along, commenting, and helping me pass the time until my trip was finally here! I just finished packing and BF is almost done. He says he's an 8 on the excitement scale (with 10 being the highest). Hopefully when we wake up at 3:45am tomorrow he'll be even higher! Oh, me? I'm a 52.

I will post a link to a TR here when I get back. I may check the DIS from my phone once or twice but will be using Twitter to post updates and pictures throughout the day. Follow me @heathsf!

Thanks again for following alone!

EEK!

I'm assuming this is your last post before your trip, so have FUN and be SAFE and take LOTS of pictures and please get lost in the Disney magic!