I'm not going to USA I'm going to another world! Coming home from across the pond PTR

[dekkerdisneydreamer]

Thanks, he's a bit miserable today His eyes were completely glued shut this morning.
It's all hayfever related! This season has been awful for dry weather - we've had very little rain but a *lot* of pollen, so it's swirling around with the dust making a kind of smog in the city. My sister in law was at the beach last week and said it's nothing like London down there for hayfever.
I'm hoping that when we get to Disney we'll find the heat and air different enough to ease any suffering, but I'll be taking antihistamines anyway - especially for that garden show

I haven't had to deal with any eye problems with my 10 month old yet. I know they are coming though. I'm sure the care he is getting from his mama will make him much better!

That's definitely a good idea about the medicine, the humid weather hits people in different ways, so antihistamines are a must!

 

[Sundancer UK]

AAARRRRGGGHHHHH!!!!

I am going around and around in circles and feel as though I'm getting nowhere - someone please help!
I would like to stress here that I am not trying to make it 'perfect', or to make sure we 'see everything' - I understand that this is not possible.
I'm not even an over-planner, I would like to keep things fairly fluid, as we've never been before and I don't know what will be most enjoyed by us.
But having said that - we've never been before so I'd like a plan to get us to all the important bits!

So above I put down our ADRs and that I need to fit in Pixar weekend, SWW and Harry Potter.

Now I'm also letting you know that I want to see the big shows. I suspect we will see Wishes more than once. I also want to see Illuminations, Fantasmic, and the some of the parades, including the Electric one if possible

I do plan on taking a nap/break each afternoon. We are capable of getting up and out early, and I know that the shows tend to be on quite late, so a rest in the middle of the day sounds very sensible.

The water parks I'm not that fussed about, though I may be the only one of our party thinking this

So I have, so far:

Tues 10th. Arrive late - MK for wishes (if possible)

Wed 11th. Animal Kingdom

Thurs 12th. Lunch @ MK, but the main of the day spent at Epcot? See Illuminations.

Fri 13th.* AK

Sat 14th. Breakfast @ Contemporary. Then on to HS

Sun 15th. Epcot in the morning, HS for Fantasmic in the evening?

Mon 16th. It's been suggested I avoid MK today (high crowds) but I'd like to get there for the electric parade at 9pm. Maybe waterparks in the day?

Tues 17th. MK

Wed 18th. HS

Thurs 19th. Island of Adventure for WWoHP

Fri 20th. MK (maybe SWW @ HS, I've seen mixed thoughts on this)

Sat 21st. SWW @ HS, or ???

Sun 22nd. Epcot

Mon 23rd. Don't know! I want to say Epcot as I don't have it down enough for my liking. I want at least two days for Epcot as it sounds fab (and huge), but not sure I want to do it two days in a row.
Those crowd predictors make everything confusing and confuddled!

So go on then - rearrange me - please!

Also, do the parades tend to happen at the same time each day? And would the AK parade (there is one, right?) be at the same time of day that the MK one would be?

What else am I missing?

Ideally we'd do each park twice in the first 8 days, then the second chunk of our holiday can be spent going where we feel like, avoiding those that are more likely to be busy.

*sigh* It's off to bed I go - another late night! Hoping to have this sorted by tomorrow...




*Eeek - we have a Friday 13th on our trip?! Cool or worrying...

 

[lamb616]

AAARRRRGGGHHHHH!!!!

So I have, so far:

Tues 10th. Arrive late - MK for wishes (if possible)

Wed 11th. Animal Kingdom

Thurs 12th. Lunch @ MK, but the main of the day spent at Epcot? See Illuminations.

Fri 13th.* AK

I'm not sure I'd plan for a 2nd day at any park before you get to do all 4 parks. Esp. for AK as it might be hard to find 2 days worth of stuff to do there. We were done with that park by like 2:30, but we didn't actually spend time looking at the animals.

JMO of course, which really isn't worth all that much, lol.

Sat 14th. Breakfast @ Contemporary. Then on to HS

Sun 15th. Epcot in the morning, HS for Fantasmic in the evening?

Mon 16th. It's been suggested I avoid MK today (high crowds) but I'd like to get there for the electric parade at 9pm. Maybe waterparks in the day?

The Elec. Parade is probably showing many other nights as well. I will check and post the dates & times.

Also, do the parades tend to happen at the same time each day? And would the AK parade (there is one, right?) be at the same time of day that the MK one would be?

AK is always @ 3:45, HS @ 3:00 and MK @ 3:00

 

[lamb616]

If there's no MSEP, then Wishes is at 9:00


Thurs, 12th
MSEP @ 9:00
Wishes @ 10:00
Fantasmic @ 9:00
Fantasmic @ 10:30

Fri. 13th
Fantasmic @ 9:00
Fantasmic @ 10:30

Sat. 14th
MSEP @ 9:00
Wishes @ 10:00
MSEP @ 11:00


Sun. 15th
Wishes @ 9:00
MSEP @ 10:00
Fantasmic @ 9:00
Fantasmic @ 10:30

Mon. 16th
MSEP @ 9:00
Wishes @ 10:00
Fantasmic @ 9:00
Fantasmic @ 10:30


Tues. 17th
Fantasmic @ 9:00
Fantasmic @ 10:30


Weds. 18th
Fantasmic @ 9:00
Fantasmic @ 10:30


Thurs. 19th
MSEP @ 9:00
Wishes @ 10:00


Fri. 20th
MSEP @ 9:00
Wishes @ 10:00
Fantasmic @ 9:00
Fantasmic @ 10:30


Sat. 21st
MSEP @ 9:00
Wishes @ 10:00
Fantasmic @ 9:00
Fantasmic @ 10:30


Sun. 22nd
MSEP @ 9:00
Wishes @ 10:00
Fantasmic @ 9:00
Fantasmic @ 10:30


Mon. 23rd
MSEP @ 9:00
Wishes @ 10:00
Fantasmic @ 9:00
Fantasmic @ 10:30



*these aren't from the WDW site but from "another" site and of course Disney could make changes at any time, including on that day.

 

[dekkerdisneydreamer]

I would agree with PP, I would try to get in a day at each park first, then go back and "re-do" things you didn't get to before. I would also suggest spending even a half a day in the middle of the trip at your resort/pool. These days IMO are extremely important to let people relax, especially kids. The whole experience can be overwhelming for adults, let alone kids. You know your family the best, though. You will know what they can handle and what they can't.

I'm sure you've been on this site before, but here's the calendar of operating hours. It should help with working out the days.

http://allears.net/tp/ohours.htm

Unless your superstitious, I wouldn't worry too much about the 13th. It's just another day that you and your family will be at the happiest place on earth.

 

[Sundancer UK]

You're right, you're right you know!

In fact, at one point I had it all worked out, only then I found crowd predictors, considered avoiding EMHs, realised the Pixar and SWW things... It all changed!

I can remember that actually I wasn't too fussed about going to the Magic Kingdom on the first full day, this is why I was going to try on the first evening - just to get the fix But I think HS or Epcot could be good...

 

[l_mccafferty]

Hi Sundancer, I've put my replies below in red! Try not to stress yourself out with too much planning. What I would say though is have a rough guide (pretty much like you've got) and then I would plan what major rides I want to hit at the parks. We normally do this and either ride or Fastpass them straight away. We then move at a bit of a more leisurely pace after we've done them all. One other thing I picked up on, you said about CRT and maybe needing to take the baby with you, someone who's more knowledgeable can correct me but I thought you would need to have included the baby in the ADR number?

AAARRRRGGGHHHHH!!!!

I am going around and around in circles and feel as though I'm getting nowhere - someone please help!
I would like to stress here that I am not trying to make it 'perfect', or to make sure we 'see everything' - I understand that this is not possible.
I'm not even an over-planner, I would like to keep things fairly fluid, as we've never been before and I don't know what will be most enjoyed by us.
But having said that - we've never been before so I'd like a plan to get us to all the important bits!

So above I put down our ADRs and that I need to fit in Pixar weekend, SWW and Harry Potter.

Now I'm also letting you know that I want to see the big shows. I suspect we will see Wishes more than once. I also want to see Illuminations, Fantasmic, and the some of the parades, including the Electric one if possible

I do plan on taking a nap/break each afternoon. We are capable of getting up and out early, and I know that the shows tend to be on quite late, so a rest in the middle of the day sounds very sensible.

The water parks I'm not that fussed about, though I may be the only one of our party thinking this

So I have, so far:

Tues 10th. Arrive late - MK for wishes (if possible)

Wed 11th. Animal Kingdom

Thurs 12th. Lunch @ MK, but the main of the day spent at Epcot? See Illuminations. Can you spend the day at MK if you are here anyway?

Fri 13th.* AK
Personally, I wouldn't plan a 2nd day until after I've done a day already. You might find you fit it all in

Sat 14th. Breakfast @ Contemporary. Then on to HS (Is Fantasmic showing tonight? If so do it here)

Sun 15th. Epcot in the morning, HS for Fantasmic in the evening? (Full day at Epcot, see Illuminations)

Mon 16th. It's been suggested I avoid MK today (high crowds) but I'd like to get there for the electric parade at 9pm. Maybe waterparks in the day?Waterparks then DTD?

Tues 17th. MK Is the Electrical Parade on today

Wed 18th. HS

Thurs 19th. Island of Adventure for WWoHP

Fri 20th. MK (maybe SWW @ HS, I've seen mixed thoughts on this)I would not do HS on this day. This is the opening of Star Tours 2 and there have been rumours that they will shut the park due to it reaching capacity. I would do Sunday at SWW. Are you planning on getting autographs? If so you'll need to get there early for fastpasses to get these.

Sat 21st. SWW @ HS, or ???Epcot

Sun 22nd. Epcot SWW @ HS

Mon 23rd. Don't know! I want to say Epcot as I don't have it down enough for my liking. I want at least two days for Epcot as it sounds fab (and huge), but not sure I want to do it two days in a row.
Those crowd predictors make everything confusing and confuddled!

If this was me (so just my opinion) I think you need to make the first time you do a park a full day at that park.

I hope this helps slightly and doesn't confuse matters even more! I just felt that instead of doing half days at parks the first time you're seeing them, you should do full days, that way if there's an attraction/show you've missed you can pick it up later on in you're holiday with a half day park visit. Also remember Downtown Disney

 

[Sundancer UK]

OK, well right or wrong, what I'm mostly going to do it just go and get there early! No doubling days until we've done them all and not worrying quite so much about the crowd predictor if we're already at somewhere - we're gonna go for it!

I've been quiet, but things have been busy! Still have a poorly toddler and I'm still convinced it's the hay fever rather than any virus. Still have hyper children, gradually getting worse... lol!
And of course a husband working like crazy to get his law assignment done in time! He's doing a law degree at home, it takes 6 years this way and he's on his last year - this has GOT to take priority over any help I should get at the moment.

But still, I've managed to make personalised autograph albums, holiday journals and tie dye mickey head shirts! Quite pleased with myself, just going to finish them all off and I'll show you guys

 

[dekkerdisneydreamer]

Way to go on completing all the projects Elaine! I can't wait to see them!

 

[Sundancer UK]

Yikes, we leave today.

I really don't believe it, I'm not nearly prepared but WE LEAVE FOR DISNEY TODAY!!!!!

So this is it. See you all in two weeks I guess!

 

[Corrine 1973]

Take a breath, try to relax, and remember to have fun. No plan is worth it if you are all getting fustrated. It is better to have a great trip that you didn't get to see everything than an OK trip that you saw everything.

Have a great two weeks!!!!

 

[dekkerdisneydreamer]

Have a wonderful time!! I hope that the experience is everything you hope it will be.

 

[lamb616]

you must be back now. I'm excited to hear about your trip!

 

[dekkerdisneydreamer]

you must be back now. I'm excited to hear about your trip!

 

[Sundancer UK]

Hey you guuuuyyyyyssss!!!!

I've missed ya'll *waves manically*

OK, wanna hear my biggest worry on leaving for Walt Disney World for the first time ever?

That it wouldn't live up to my expectations.
I tried - I tried so hard to drop my dreams level a little, to tell myself that as a child I had a wild imagination, but really it is just a theme park, it will be fun, but not quite what I imagined 20 years ago.
Yeah right, when you carry this dream for 25 years you don't drop it!

And W-O-W.
It lived up to everything and more. I can't even begin to describe, but I don't need to - you guys know!
I entered that world thinking that we should make the most of it, that we will probably never do this again. I left that same day saying that unless I die, I will return! No way can I miss out on another taste of that magic.

Thank you all so SO much for following me through this. For helping me out with advice, guidance, tips and more - so much more! Thank you for your enthusiasm and for putting up with my ramblings. I appreciate it all so much.

OK people, direct me here, what happens now? Do I start another thread on the trip report forum and link you over? I've got started already, first blog post is entered and I have a loaf of notes...

 

[Corrine 1973]

Hey you guuuuyyyyyssss!!!!

I've missed ya'll *waves manically*

OK, wanna hear my biggest worry on leaving for Walt Disney World for the first time ever?

That it wouldn't live up to my expectations.
I tried - I tried so hard to drop my dreams level a little, to tell myself that as a child I had a wild imagination, but really it is just a theme park, it will be fun, but not quite what I imagined 20 years ago.
Yeah right, when you carry this dream for 25 years you don't drop it!

And W-O-W.
It lived up to everything and more. I can't even begin to describe, but I don't need to - you guys know!
I entered that world thinking that we should make the most of it, that we will probably never do this again. I left that same day saying that unless I die, I will return! No way can I miss out on another taste of that magic.

Thank you all so SO much for following me through this. For helping me out with advice, guidance, tips and more - so much more! Thank you for your enthusiasm and for putting up with my ramblings. I appreciate it all so much.

OK people, direct me here, what happens now? Do I start another thread on the trip report forum and link you over? I've got started already, first blog post is entered and I have a loaf of notes...

Your back. I am glad you had a great time and can't wait to read all about your trip. I did the same thing when we went two years ago. I thought it was a ome in a life time trip, but I also left thinking I had to go back. I think disney is definatly addicting.

You have two options. You can turn this into a TR and PM the moderator to ask them to put this in the TR section. Or you can start a TR from scratch in the TR section and add the link here so we know where to find you. Can't wait to start to read. I need to get more of a Disney fix before we go in 3 days.

 

[dekkerdisneydreamer]

Hey you guuuuyyyyyssss!!!!

I've missed ya'll *waves manically*

OK, wanna hear my biggest worry on leaving for Walt Disney World for the first time ever?

That it wouldn't live up to my expectations.
I tried - I tried so hard to drop my dreams level a little, to tell myself that as a child I had a wild imagination, but really it is just a theme park, it will be fun, but not quite what I imagined 20 years ago.
Yeah right, when you carry this dream for 25 years you don't drop it!

And W-O-W.
It lived up to everything and more. I can't even begin to describe, but I don't need to - you guys know!
I entered that world thinking that we should make the most of it, that we will probably never do this again. I left that same day saying that unless I die, I will return! No way can I miss out on another taste of that magic.

Thank you all so SO much for following me through this. For helping me out with advice, guidance, tips and more - so much more! Thank you for your enthusiasm and for putting up with my ramblings. I appreciate it all so much.

OK people, direct me here, what happens now? Do I start another thread on the trip report forum and link you over? I've got started already, first blog post is entered and I have a loaf of notes...

Welcome back!!

I am so happy for you that I got chills reading your summary. I know you will have an awesome trip report!! Not to mention that the reason a trip report is so much fun is that not only do we get to live your experience, but you get to re-live it!

Corrine summed up your options, so I hope you will be able to start soon!

 

[Truffle]

Please... we can't wait to hear about it!!!

 

[mackenziec123]

I hope you have a marvelous trip! WDW is something else, isn't it? I go back in 18 days and cannot wait! I'm so happy that you and your family were able to take this trip because so many wonderful memories will be created on your vacation.

 

[Sundancer UK]

I shall go sit in the naughty corner as I am a bad BAD Dis-er!

Sorry for keeping you waiting, I'm getting right on it tonight as some of my holiday snaps upload to flickr I do have the excuse of 2 weeks of laundry for 6 people and over 2100 photos and I've not even counted how many film clips for me to sort through.
Not to mention the normal day to day stuff that overwhelms me at the best of times!

Will be back soon with a link to a TR I hope!