Is it too late for a Pre-Trip report? Leaving in 5 days (June 13th) for a week at BW

[mhalpern]

Is it too late for a pre-trip report?!?!?!? Only 5 days to go and I need to talk Disney or I’ll bust. But no one at home is interested. Here’s what I can share with you:

Cast of characters
Why we decided to go – like we needed a reason
Where we’re staying and why
ADRs
What is done and what still needs to get done
The new things we are trying this time
Some of my fears
My park strategies
Major goal for this trip

Okay so let’s get started!!!

First a little background information. This will be our 4th family trip to WDW.

The first one was Xmas 2003 for 3 days. DD was 4½ and DS was 2¾ - in other words FREE! DD’s highlight from that trip was getting autographs and DS’s favorite thing was riding the bus to the park – I kid you not. Basically we did not need WDW - a big tent with characters would have been sufficient.

Second trip was Easter break in 2005 for 4 days. Both of these trips we stay at Pop. My DS who was a few weeks short of 4 the second time claims not to remember anything from the first two trips. What I remember most was the crowds. What were we thinking? After that trip we swore off going on any holiday.

Third trip was Jan 08 for the land/sea package – 3 days at Poly and 4 days on the Wonder. It was a great trip but it was NOT relaxing. Trying to do four parks in 3 days is crazy. By the time we got on the ship we were wiped out. Plus the first two days of the cruise we had early morning excursions. We learned that in the future we will either cruise or go to the parks but not both. Live and learn.

Besides these trips I went to WDW 4 times before kids and DH went a handful of times as well. So now that you are caught up let me introduce the family.

I’m Meryl the trip planner and I’ll turn 45 on this trip! DH is Eric (51). He loves Disney but doesn’t understand the whole planning obsession. DD is one month away from turning 10. She is very tall and I hope no one accuses me of trying to sneak her in at the kid’s price. She’s still 9 – really! She’s still into autographs but more selective now since she got so many on previous trips. DS is 8 and loves pin trading. In addition he is looking forward to Star Wars weekend (he is bringing his Jedi costume) and he is also looking forward to shopping in the Japan pavilion because he heard they sell Yu-Gi-Oh cards there.

Here's a picure of us from our Jan. 08 trip. It's a tradition that we always get a family photo with Goofy each visit.

Can't wait to share the rest with you - it will definitely help pass the time until it's time to go!

 

[mhalpern]

Why we decided to go...

1. Back in November we heard about the 4/3 deal. That was reason enough right there. How could we pass that up? We hadn't had a vacation in over a year. Next we had to decide when to go. We knew holidays and school breaks were out - been there done that! My kids are stil young enough that we could take them out of school but we started thinking about after school. Both DH and I work full-time so kids are in camp all summer. 2. One week at WDW is one less week to pay for camp. 3. My birthday is in June so that meant either a free day, a bday gift card or a bday fastpass. 4. DD is going to turn 10 this summer so this was really our last chance to bring her while she's still considered a kid. Those 4 reasons were enough to get me on the phone to book our trip!

Where we're staying....

For years my motto was "Why pay a lot for a room that we are only going to sleep in?" We are not the type of family to go back to the hotel in the middle of the day. I was a big fan of the value hotels and couldn't understand why people would stay anywhere else. Really. Then on our last trip we got a room at the Poly because it was part of our package - the type of cabin you have on the cruise ship determines what kind of room you get for the land portion. OMG. I could not believe the difference. I mean I knew the room would be a little bigger (big deal) but what I didn't expect was the ambiance. Don't get me wrong the value hotels have great theming but there is something frenetic about them. By comparison the Poly seemed so peaceful. It was an "Aahhhh" moment. And the transportation is so much better. So needless to say it is going to be hard for me when I have to go back to the value hotels.

Originally we booked POFQ for this trip. We have never been there and I have always wanted to stay there. But with the 4/3 deal we realized this may be our last chance to stay at a deluxe for a long time. In addition, in all our trips to WDW we have never been to the boardwalk area - not once. The single solitary thing I don't like about WDW is waiting for a bus. When I found out that BWI was walking distance to my two favorite parks that's all I needed to hear. So we switched our reservation to BWI and I can't even begin to tell you how excited we are.

Okay more tomorrow....

 

[MinnieNurse]

Its never too late for a PTR! Plans sound good. I cant wait to see your pics of the BW when you get back. For some reason I have a burning desire to stay at Beach Club, not sure why I just do. Cant wait to read more.

 

[mhalpern]

I'm really excited about the meals we have scheduled for this trip. I love food and I feel like I'm usually on a diet so this is going to be a real treat. We are going to be on the DDP which I think is a great deal. Our meals on our last trip were somewhat of a disaster. We had lunch one day at Sci Fi - fun atmosphere, terrible food. We had dinner our last night at Kona which almost always get great reviews. I honestly can't remember what I ordered but we had the world's worst waitress. Unfortunately that's all I can remember from that meal. We'll have to give it another try one day. We also had an ADR at Teppan Edo last time but we were so exhausted we couldn't get ourselves over to World Showcase. Our only really good meal was breakfast at 1900. The food was good and the character interaction was fun!

Okay on to this trip....here's what we have scheduled:

TS
Liberty Tree Tavern - lunch (1st time)
50s Prime Time - lunch
Spoodles - breakfast, might cancel this because we have 2 other TS that day
Chef de France - lunch (1st time)
Garden Grill - dinner (1st time)
Yak & Yeti - lunch, I was just going to do Flame Tree CS in AK but I thought we might need an air conditioned place to relax for a bit (1st time)
Hoop De Doo - dinner (1st time)
Mama Melrose - dinner (1st time)
Cape May Cafe - breakfast (1st time)
Teppan Edo - my bday dinner (1st time)
Ohana - breakfast (1st time)

I also have Boma scheduled for dinner one night but I'm going to cancel it because we need an evening to spend at DTD.

So what do you think?!? I'm excited that we are going to so many new places. Feel free to give suggestions on what to order.

As for CS here are some of the places I hope to try:
Columbia Harbor House
Main Street Bakery
Starring Rolls Bakery
Boardwalk Bakery - catching a theme here?
Wolfgang Express
Not sure where to eat at HS

Any other suggestions?? Since we're talking about food here are some of the snacks I'm hoping to try:
Dole Whip - MK
School bread and/or Sweet Pretzel in Norway
Carrot cake cookie - Writer's stop
Popcorn - everyone says how good it is at Disney!
I'm not a big drinker but maybe a margarita in Mexico
create a pretzel at Goofy's - DTD
I'm sure there's more but that's all I can think of at the moment.

Okay now I'm hungry. Off to eat - I'll be back later.

 

[OhMari]

Hi,
I'm in.
We stayed at the BWV 2 years ago, and the Beach Club last Nov.
Anyways, don't walk to Disney Studios, there is a small ferry that will take you. The walk is over 20 minutes and it really don't have any shade and after a long day in the park, it is a long way back. The boat only takes 10 minutes.

And, if you want to save time also, pick up your Bakery items at the Boardwalk Bakery the nite before. If you want the egg sandwhich, then you have to get in the long line in the morning. The line looks deceiving, but it moves fairly fast. Only about 4 people can stand inside, and that is why it looks like the line stretches so far out the door.
Same thing with the Bakery in Norway and France, pick up items late at nite for breakfast.

 

[remark44]

I am soooo jealous you are leaving in 4 days. And I have to wait 80 days! Hope you guys have an awesome time and it is not too hot for DH.

Maybe one day we will leave the husbands and kids at home and have a sisters trip.

Can't wait to read more.

 

[mhalpern]

Hi,
I'm in.
We stayed at the BWV 2 years ago, and the Beach Club last Nov.
Anyways, don't walk to Disney Studios, there is a small ferry that will take you. The walk is over 20 minutes and it really don't have any shade and after a long day in the park, it is a long way back. The boat only takes 10 minutes.

And, if you want to save time also, pick up your Bakery items at the Boardwalk Bakery the nite before. If you want the egg sandwhich, then you have to get in the long line in the morning. The line looks deceiving, but it moves fairly fast. Only about 4 people can stand inside, and that is why it looks like the line stretches so far out the door.
Same thing with the Bakery in Norway and France, pick up items late at nite for breakfast.

OhMari - good tips - thanks!!

 

[mhalpern]

Maybe one day we will leave the husbands and kids at home and have a sisters trip.

Count on it!!! Then I might actually make it to rope drop.