Castillo Mom
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- May 5, 2003
- Messages
- 3,837
I've been sitting here for the last ten minutes trying to think of a clever title for my pre-trip report but nothing comes to mind so I just went for the obvious.
At first I thought it was silly to start a report so soon, but after perusing this board, I realized there are others far crazier than I with trips much further in the future. Besides, I've done as much as I can in terms of trip planning, at least for now so I need something Disney-related to fill my internet time.
I guess I should start off with who is who in our little group:
The Characters
Me - Crazy mom and single parent who obsesses over planning the next trip to WDW. The night before last I dreamt of missed ADRs and not arriving at the parks until 11:00 a.m. Oh the horror!
I even have a Disney dance that I do in the privacy of my own home of course, much to my 3 teenage son's chagrin which causes an instant rolling of the eyes.
Sister - My little sister, well not so little because she's a 28-year old married woman now. This will be her first trip to WDW. She loves Disney and is a DL annual passholder. I'm thrilled to be able to show her around WDW.
DS17 - My firstborn who is a huge Disney fan just like his mom, lover of all things piratey and villian-related. He will be graduating HS this year, thus the reason for our trip - it's his grad present!
DS15 - Loves Mickey, not embarassed at the fact that he still collects stuffed Mickeys. Wound up just a little tighter than mom when it comes to keeping to the itinerary. Last trip we had to take away his new Mickey watch for a couple days because he was stressing about sticking to the schedule.
DS13 - Ever the comedian and skeptic. Although somewhat the cynical type, he still loves Disney and allows the magic to take over. Secretly loves Pooh and would kill me if he knew I told anyone. Now I've told thousands - but who the heck cares, you're all out in cyber space.
DSIL - Wonderful auntie to my sons, just moved to South Carolina
but is now only 6 hours away from WDW. I think we'll be making yearly trips to visit.
DBIL - All around great guy, just riding the Disney wave and acquiesces to my and DSIL plans. Hates hot, humid weather. Oh, oh!
Oh well, he can borrow my Misty Mate.
DN - Recently turned 5, spoiled by her cousins (my boys). We were a little worried about her for a minute there. See, last summer we went on a 4 day jaunt to DL. She loved it! Well for some reason when she overheard a conversation about WDW between her mom and I, she said she didn't want to go to DL, in fact was adamant about it. Who knows, maybe she was feeling insecure about the recent move across the country but what to do? We had planned a last minute trip to WDW for one night to book the Future Stay promo with Free Dining. No one said a word to her on the way up. Well, when she was finally there she loved it! Whoo, that was a close call. She didn't get to experience any of the parks so I'm looking forward to seeing WDW through her eyes.
Here's where my pre-trip report will get a little complicated. Not only are we going to WDW, we're also going on a 7-day Disney Cruise immediately after. My sister unfortunately will not be joining us on the cruise so she will fly back home on our last day of the land portion of our trip. I'm still holding on to hope that she will somehow be able to make it and that her hubby, the coolest uncle on the planet to my boys, will be able to come on the cruise too, but it's not looking too promising.
One person I didn't mention in my introductions is DMIL. She will not be joining for WDW but will be coming on the cruise. Anyway, now for the what, where and when:
The Plan
Arrive at WDW on 8/21 for which I've booked 1 night room only, then 10 night package begins 8/22. I've booked a package to include Free Dining through the Future Stay promo. We are due to fly out from LAX on AA at 8:25 a.m. and should arrive at the Polynesian via ME by about 4:30 p.m. if there are no delays. We won't be going to any parks on arrival day. I can still remember last trip how exhausted we were by the end of day one. We had been delayed by a day due to hurricane Charley, so we wanted to get the most out of our time in WDW. Due to the delay, we ended up on a connecting rather than a direct flight. Very difficult to do with 3 kids coming from a different time zone. So this trip I promised the boys that we would take a slightly more laid back approach.
But I digress. Once we arrive at the resort, we'll take a look around the hotel then have dinner at 'Ohana followed by a swim, then early to bed in preparation for an early start the next morning for our first park day. I subscribe to TGM so I've started working on our itinerary. I know, too early because the hours for Aug. haven't come out yet, but I need to practice my planning skills. I've almost finalized our TS meals and some CS. We will be dining at the following:
The Food
TS - 'Ohana (twice, breakfast/dinner), Kona Cafe (twice, breakfast/dinner), Narcoossee, Citricos, Jiko, Mama Melrose, Sci-Fi Dine-In, Crystal Palace, Teppanyaki, Le Cellier, Boma.
CS - Wolfgang Puck Express, Captain Cook's, Leaning Palms, Columbia Harbor House.
Possible alternates - Whispering Canyon Cafe, Chef Mickey, Gasparilla Grill.
As you can see, I have more TS than CS listed. I'm sure we'll be having more than a meal or two at Captain Cook's plus I haven't decided on CS at Epcot. We don't mind paying OOP for a few times or my sister and I may share a couple times. We enjoy fine dining and plan on one sit down meal per day to relax together as a family. My sister and I also plan on having dinner just she and I one evening while the boys hang out at DQ. That evening will probably be spent at Citricos.
The Parks
Epcot - 2 days
MK - 2 days
AK - 1 day
MGM - 1 day
TL - 1 day
In between the park touring I plan on at least one full non park day, maybe two depending on how we feel. We would also do another day which would most likely combine shopping at DD as well as DQ.
The Cruise
After our 10 days at WDW, if we have the strength, we'll head out to Port Canaveral on the morning of 9/1 for our first cruise on the Disney Magic for 7 sun-soaked days in the eastern Caribbean. Seriously though, even if someone has to drag my bloated, sun burnt carcass onto that ship, I'm going, tired or not! It will be my boys' first ever cruise but all of our 1st cruise with DCL. I'm really looking forward to those two lazy sea days on the ship to help me re-energize after so many days of theme parks.
I haven't focused on the cruise too much lately because my attention has been on the land portion of our trip. I did however, book a private day sail for snorkeling during our time in St. Thomas. This excursion includes continental breakfast with fresh baked breads, fruit and juice and a cooked to order lunch on the boat and open bar. My boys are somewhat apprehensive about swimming in open water but I've promised them it'll be an experience they won't forget and could be the first of many. In the meantime, I'm keeping them away from those shark-related nature programs on the Discovery Channel!
For our time on St. Martin, I've decided that we'll go over to the French side of the island for shopping, an hour or two at the beach, shopping, lunch and then, oh, shopping.
As for Castaway Cay, so far we only have the banana boat ride planned so this day is still a work in progress.
So that's pretty much it. The airfare has been purchased, the WDW package and cruise should be paid off by the end of March. All that's left to do is continue working on the itinerary and book our ADRs in February. Oh, I haven't decided if we're renting a car for the drive to the port. If it's too much hassle, then I may end up hiring a van or limo to get us there. And then there's the summer clothes shopping to do. Gotta go out and get that string bikini for sunbathing on the islands!
At first I thought it was silly to start a report so soon, but after perusing this board, I realized there are others far crazier than I with trips much further in the future. Besides, I've done as much as I can in terms of trip planning, at least for now so I need something Disney-related to fill my internet time.
I guess I should start off with who is who in our little group:
The Characters
Me - Crazy mom and single parent who obsesses over planning the next trip to WDW. The night before last I dreamt of missed ADRs and not arriving at the parks until 11:00 a.m. Oh the horror!
I even have a Disney dance that I do in the privacy of my own home of course, much to my 3 teenage son's chagrin which causes an instant rolling of the eyes.Sister - My little sister, well not so little because she's a 28-year old married woman now. This will be her first trip to WDW. She loves Disney and is a DL annual passholder. I'm thrilled to be able to show her around WDW.
DS17 - My firstborn who is a huge Disney fan just like his mom, lover of all things piratey and villian-related. He will be graduating HS this year, thus the reason for our trip - it's his grad present!
DS15 - Loves Mickey, not embarassed at the fact that he still collects stuffed Mickeys. Wound up just a little tighter than mom when it comes to keeping to the itinerary. Last trip we had to take away his new Mickey watch for a couple days because he was stressing about sticking to the schedule.
DS13 - Ever the comedian and skeptic. Although somewhat the cynical type, he still loves Disney and allows the magic to take over. Secretly loves Pooh and would kill me if he knew I told anyone. Now I've told thousands - but who the heck cares, you're all out in cyber space.
DSIL - Wonderful auntie to my sons, just moved to South Carolina
but is now only 6 hours away from WDW. I think we'll be making yearly trips to visit. DBIL - All around great guy, just riding the Disney wave and acquiesces to my and DSIL plans. Hates hot, humid weather. Oh, oh!
Oh well, he can borrow my Misty Mate.DN - Recently turned 5, spoiled by her cousins (my boys). We were a little worried about her for a minute there. See, last summer we went on a 4 day jaunt to DL. She loved it! Well for some reason when she overheard a conversation about WDW between her mom and I, she said she didn't want to go to DL, in fact was adamant about it.
Who knows, maybe she was feeling insecure about the recent move across the country but what to do? We had planned a last minute trip to WDW for one night to book the Future Stay promo with Free Dining. No one said a word to her on the way up. Well, when she was finally there she loved it! Whoo, that was a close call. She didn't get to experience any of the parks so I'm looking forward to seeing WDW through her eyes.Here's where my pre-trip report will get a little complicated. Not only are we going to WDW, we're also going on a 7-day Disney Cruise immediately after. My sister unfortunately will not be joining us on the cruise so she will fly back home on our last day of the land portion of our trip. I'm still holding on to hope that she will somehow be able to make it and that her hubby, the coolest uncle on the planet to my boys, will be able to come on the cruise too, but it's not looking too promising.
One person I didn't mention in my introductions is DMIL. She will not be joining for WDW but will be coming on the cruise. Anyway, now for the what, where and when:
The Plan
Arrive at WDW on 8/21 for which I've booked 1 night room only, then 10 night package begins 8/22. I've booked a package to include Free Dining through the Future Stay promo. We are due to fly out from LAX on AA at 8:25 a.m. and should arrive at the Polynesian via ME by about 4:30 p.m. if there are no delays. We won't be going to any parks on arrival day. I can still remember last trip how exhausted we were by the end of day one. We had been delayed by a day due to hurricane Charley, so we wanted to get the most out of our time in WDW. Due to the delay, we ended up on a connecting rather than a direct flight. Very difficult to do with 3 kids coming from a different time zone. So this trip I promised the boys that we would take a slightly more laid back approach.
But I digress. Once we arrive at the resort, we'll take a look around the hotel then have dinner at 'Ohana followed by a swim, then early to bed in preparation for an early start the next morning for our first park day. I subscribe to TGM so I've started working on our itinerary. I know, too early because the hours for Aug. haven't come out yet, but I need to practice my planning skills. I've almost finalized our TS meals and some CS. We will be dining at the following:
The Food
TS - 'Ohana (twice, breakfast/dinner), Kona Cafe (twice, breakfast/dinner), Narcoossee, Citricos, Jiko, Mama Melrose, Sci-Fi Dine-In, Crystal Palace, Teppanyaki, Le Cellier, Boma.
CS - Wolfgang Puck Express, Captain Cook's, Leaning Palms, Columbia Harbor House.
Possible alternates - Whispering Canyon Cafe, Chef Mickey, Gasparilla Grill.
As you can see, I have more TS than CS listed. I'm sure we'll be having more than a meal or two at Captain Cook's plus I haven't decided on CS at Epcot. We don't mind paying OOP for a few times or my sister and I may share a couple times. We enjoy fine dining and plan on one sit down meal per day to relax together as a family. My sister and I also plan on having dinner just she and I one evening while the boys hang out at DQ. That evening will probably be spent at Citricos.
The Parks
Epcot - 2 days
MK - 2 days
AK - 1 day
MGM - 1 day
TL - 1 day
In between the park touring I plan on at least one full non park day, maybe two depending on how we feel. We would also do another day which would most likely combine shopping at DD as well as DQ.
The Cruise
After our 10 days at WDW, if we have the strength, we'll head out to Port Canaveral on the morning of 9/1 for our first cruise on the Disney Magic for 7 sun-soaked days in the eastern Caribbean. Seriously though, even if someone has to drag my bloated, sun burnt carcass onto that ship, I'm going, tired or not! It will be my boys' first ever cruise but all of our 1st cruise with DCL. I'm really looking forward to those two lazy sea days on the ship to help me re-energize after so many days of theme parks.
I haven't focused on the cruise too much lately because my attention has been on the land portion of our trip. I did however, book a private day sail for snorkeling during our time in St. Thomas. This excursion includes continental breakfast with fresh baked breads, fruit and juice and a cooked to order lunch on the boat and open bar. My boys are somewhat apprehensive about swimming in open water but I've promised them it'll be an experience they won't forget and could be the first of many. In the meantime, I'm keeping them away from those shark-related nature programs on the Discovery Channel!
For our time on St. Martin, I've decided that we'll go over to the French side of the island for shopping, an hour or two at the beach, shopping, lunch and then, oh, shopping.
As for Castaway Cay, so far we only have the banana boat ride planned so this day is still a work in progress.
So that's pretty much it. The airfare has been purchased, the WDW package and cruise should be paid off by the end of March. All that's left to do is continue working on the itinerary and book our ADRs in February. Oh, I haven't decided if we're renting a car for the drive to the port. If it's too much hassle, then I may end up hiring a van or limo to get us there. And then there's the summer clothes shopping to do. Gotta go out and get that string bikini for sunbathing on the islands!
Good luck, enjoy your planning and have an amazing time!
It's going to be a long 5+ months and I too need something to occupy my time!
we are waiting.........
Oh, and I've only used up 43 CS credits. 
