It's our Pop Fantasy with an Old Key West Villa

[gallmcduck]

Having just typed a whole post out I just lost it Let's start again

So far I’ve told you the where, the when, the who and some ADR suggestions. Maybe it’s time to look at tentative plans.

First up will be Travelling to the world

Most flights are still not opened up yet for October 2012 but those windows are getting nearer. We have priced virgin but are hoping that once the windows open up the prices come down Given the 9 hour flight we will very likely not get to OKW until around 7.30/8.30pm (US time). We normally say 2 hours from leaving plane, getting through immigration, collecting luggage and travel from orlando international. Last year we did not get to POR until around 7:15/7.30pm. Our 9 hour flight was fairly uneventful. DD2 napped twice and DD1 slept for 4 hours in the one go. We still never managed to watch a movie as they did not nap at the same time. Would you believe me if I told you that the plane landed at 3.20pm We landed during a thunderstorm only for the captain to announce due to health & safety we had to stay on board until the storm had passed as there would be no ground staff available to bring the plane in until then. One hour later we were heading to immigration. Having only used the ME for the first time last year we didn’t think it was much of an express. Having never taken the ME from the airport before we did not know if it was normal to wait for the bus to fill or if they have set times for vacating guess we maybe just missed one leaving. We finally left the airport At 6:45pm

I will leave you with a pic of three wee cheeky monkeys

Next up we will be heading to that place where dreams come true

 

[ScotsMinnie]

Might be a silly question and you maybe have already explained it and I have missed it but what is the FE exchange?

 

[gallmcduck]

Might be a silly question and you maybe have already explained it and I have missed it but what is the FE exchange?

Sorry that is me not explaining myself correctly. Being totally honest I still have got a lot to learn myself and I am still reading about it but it is what is known as fish extender exchange on Disney cruise line. On one side of your cabin door you have a fish hook and that is where your room host can place important messages etc. What disers do is they place a fish extender on that, I would call a fish extender one of our bathroom organiser, shoe organiser things which we would put over backs of doors. Whilst on your cruise you exchange gifts nothing lavish anything from sweets to home made gifts. There is really good links to threads on the dis meet thread for our cruise I will post some of these which are really good and give more details.

 

[ScotsMinnie]

Sounds interesting! Would love to see some pics and things. You have got to love the Dis eh? Can you imagine doing that here!!!!!

 

[gallmcduck]

This will be a really earlier morning for us, generally anytime from 4.30am we will be awake from So we will make an ADR at CRT for as early as possible to give us an energy boost before some commando style touring of MK CRT does get a bad rap but we really enjoy the experience and the girls meeting the princesses. Last trip our host was excellent and really attentive which made our experience an enjoyable one. One thing that sticks out was when she asked if there was anything more we would like our request was for bacon and more sticky buns yum yum. These requests were granted one funny phrase we recall which our host made “don’t tell piglet” the kids loved that and they were getting even more ready and excited to be heading towards fantasyland.

Now this trip will be a different experience for them with the first phase of the fantasyland extension being opened and we are hoping be our guest restaurant as well, that will come in our second day at MK.

First up we would usually head straight to dumbo our touring strategy will have to change with the expansion, need to work on that over the coming months

Some must for this day outside of fantasy land will be; the mountains (splash, big thunder, space), pirates, jungle cruise, haircuits at barbers and some plaza ice cream :

At the moment we will want to get some pool time at POP before dinner to relax after an early start on our first day. We will also be getting ready for the next day ......................... meeting the fantasy

 

[gallmcduck]

Sounds interesting! Would love to see some pics and things. You have got to love the Dis eh? Can you imagine doing that here!!!!!

somehow I cannot imagine this happening here.

I borrowed these links from our DISmeet thread to show what a FE looks like and another link with gift ideas.

http://www.disneycollegeblog.com/201...-extender.html

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1219607

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2776492
__________________

 

[ScotsMinnie]

That looks great! It will be so exciting to see what you get and for the kids to deliver things too.

I think it will be a shame that the fantasyland construction will be going on while we are there. Not sure what the impact will be but fantasyland must be my favourite area of the park.

Love the Piglet comment!

 

[gallmcduck]

This will be a very exciting day for us we will be meeting the ship we will be dreaming about for the next 375 days We hope to be able to have some of our luggage held over at OKW for our return section of this trip, haven’t managed to look into this yet but hopefully this will be an option for us. If anyone has done something like this before it would be good to hear if this is something viable Given the stateroom layout for a deluxe family oceanview stateroom – 241 sq ft -anything that can be left behind the better We haven’t booked transport to the port yet but we have been looking at a towncar with a stop off at walmart on the way. Once we get through the security, meeting mickey at the port, signing the kids up for the oceaneer’s club and having our boarding picture taken it will be an adventure walking into a new atrium and locating staterooms 9000 and 9002

Next up ................... what do we plan doing once on board? I will leave you with some memories from last year

Meeting Mickey and Donald

Yummy mickey ice cream

 

[gallmcduck]

Had to post that we are having a one year dance, one year until we stay at POP and OKW for the first time, one year until we sail the ocean blue on the Fantasy and one year until our disneyworld adventure

 

[ScotsMinnie]

Will pass in a flash!

 

[gallmcduck]

There is still a lot of planning to do for when we when board like will we go to cabanas for a lunch buffet, what time will the sail away party begin, how will this work with our dining time, when will we get into our statement.............. oh and the drill, at least we do not have to wear life jackets, standing for the drill especially if your meeting point is in the sun is hot hot hot you definatley have the have shade on

We do plan on packing our carry on with swimming essentials and important pieces to tide us by until our luggage arrives.We hope to not have to visit the line for reservations as all going well the palo dinner and brunch and remy dinner is all set up

I'll share a lovely gift all the children received from Gran and Grandad's trip

Next up day at sea................

 

[gallmcduck]

Hey just wanted to drop by for a quick update, its been a busy busy time recently and now halloween season is over there is some breathing space to DIS That will be until the christmas season kicks off

Flights are still causing a lot of headaches prices are crazy crazy crazy

First day at sea being worked on .........................

 

[ScotsMinnie]

I feel your pain with the flights. Hope you get something reasonable!

 

[Enchanted88]

Hello there! I'm joining in!! I just found your PTR! I'm getting better and navigating the DIS, so maybe I'll be able to keep updated on your plans now! You dropped by and said hello on my PTR, and now that I've found you, I can say hello on yours!!


I'm looking forward to counting down the days with my fellow Disney lovers!!
Hope you have a great weekend!

 

[gallmcduck]

Merry christmas everyone We are enjoying the holidays and mummy is getting some time to DIS now that the madness of the chrismtas countdown is over. The kids had a lovely time and are now happily playing away with their new stuff

So what's been happening on the disneyfront well............................. the search for flights is still ongoing with crazy crazy prices but on a plus they have come down ever so slightly. We hope to have them booked by the end of january.

Those first days on board the fantasy are coming along nicely, we are watching all of the updates on how the ship is coming together wow its nearing its maiden voyage.

Be back real soon

 

[jedijill]

Hello from a fellow October 6 cruiser! Your kids are cuties! Cannot wait to finally get on the ship!

Jill in CO

 

[Happydog]

HELLO!!! I didn't know you started this!!! YAY!!! How fun! well I am going to keep following along with you, what a great trip you will have!!!!

 

[gallmcduck]

Hello from a fellow October 6 cruiser! Your kids are cuties! Cannot wait to finally get on the ship!

Jill in CO

Hi fellow cruiser the countdown is coming along nicely 258 days to go The kids are all very exicited about our up and coming cruise which will be a first for both our DD's. Just now we are thinking through our FE gifts and how we are going to make our FE, we cannot seem to locate a supplier here in the UK

 

[gallmcduck]

Hello there! I'm joining in!! I just found your PTR! I'm getting better and navigating the DIS, so maybe I'll be able to keep updated on your plans now! You dropped by and said hello on my PTR, and now that I've found you, I can say hello on yours!!


I'm looking forward to counting down the days with my fellow Disney lovers!!
Hope you have a great weekend!

Hi I have missed welcoming you to our ptr sorry for the oversight I had a lot of catching up to do on ptrs had a few weeks of busy busy busy with the run up to the christmas period, back on track again Time for me to catch up with your plans.

 

[gallmcduck]

HELLO!!! I didn't know you started this!!! YAY!!! How fun! well I am going to keep following along with you, what a great trip you will have!!!!

Yey HD you've came over It's been a bit slow on the planning front as we have been caught up in that non-fun stuff like work Having had a great weekend of DISing and planning things are back on track.

That first day at sea is still in progress and we are working on those ADRs Today we decided on a cabana at castaway cay and def trips to palo's and remy's Oh I am giving away some updates

Now we need to solve the flight problem