Life is Nifty, Lee turns 50. Who is coming to the Party?

[LuvEeyore]

Life is Nifty, Lee turns 50. Who is coming to the Party? Jan 1-9, 2015 Girls trip

Okay. Here is the start to a pre-trippy. My goal is to get this one done. Okay, let me tell you about this trip and introduce the characters.

My name is Lee. I love all things Disney and I am overdue for a trip. I really love DCL but after my last cruise I am very afraid of cruising as the aftermath of the cruise resulted in a flair of a chronic health issue I have. I last cruised in December 2012 and am finally able to think about taking care of my Disney fix.

I currently live in Southwest Virginia, I am a nurse that works Labor and Delivery and work on a busy unit in a hospital that is about 1 hour and 15 minutes away from where I live. I live with my mother who is 79 and has early Alzheimer’s. She may not be able to keep up with her checkbook balance or know people from her past but she has not forgotten one thing, her love for Disney.
The last year and a half has been trying and so I wanted to do something fun. My best friend has a daughter who will turn 20 in October, my God daughter Morgan. Morgan is fun loving, sometimes too serious for her own good. She is currently working two jobs this summer. She is a student at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA and loving it. Morgan when she turned 18 decided she was giving her Mom and I a 50th birthday party together probably in May 2015 between my birthday and her Mom’s 50th in September 2015. Morgan loves dance and even though she is not my biological child, she does take one thing after me—her love for Disney.
I celebrated a birthday in Disney after graduating with my Bachelor’s in Nursing in December 1993. I went to Disney in January 1994 leaving on New Year’s Day I think (I can’t remember—hey I am getting older!) I’ve wanted to do that again. I have wanted Morgan to have a Disney Birthday Celebration. Morgan turns 20 in October and Mom will be 80 in April 2015. Well if you all think the way I do, we should all celebrate 0 Birthdays at Disney!!

So when should this party commence? Morgan has from Mid-December to January 12 as her Winter Holiday from college. Well, Morgan needs to come. This is a very easy decision. When she is done school, she will be in the real world and taking vacations with me won’t be easy. For the last several year’s instead of giving her gift’s for birthday’s, Christmas, etc. I have given her a trip with me. The first of these trips was in 2007 and was an Alaskian Cruise. In 2012 for her 18th Birthday and early graduation present, we went on the Disney Fantasy the week before Christmas. I decided that we all should be home for Christmas partly because she really likes to spend Christmas with her families (her parents have been divorced since she was 4.) I also can have limited PTO days over the Christmas holidays. I worked New Year’s Eve and day last year. Why not leave New Year’s Day and take advantage of the 1st week of the year . So that is when we are going. January 1st 2015.

CAST
The cast of characters has changed in the last 3 months. This trip was born in January 2014 around my last birthday. Since then those wanting to celebrate with me has changed.
The main characters include me. I am Lee and as you know by now I will turn 50 in January 2015. January 4th, 2015 to be exact. I love all things Disney including DCL and WDW and DL. I have been to WDW over 10 times with my first trip in 1976 with my family. I have been on two Disney cruises and to Disneyland in 2008. Morgan and one of her friends went with us to California. This was a great trip.

This is me from the California trip in Disneyland.

Mom and her current beau from our Fantasy Cruise. My dad has been dead 10 years and Mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2006. Mom is able to stay at home while I work and my brother and his girlfriend live within walking distance. One of her favorite things to do is help me plan Disney trips.

Princess Morgan
Next up: The Plans: RPR, The Darkside before Animals galore!!

 

[LuvEeyore]

 

[LuvEeyore]

I am falling oh so behind in updating so here is more.

The Plans: RPR, The Dark side before Animals Galore!!
I started planning in January. The idea was to leave Jan 1 2015-leaving before the partiers wake up and then arriving in Florida before 8 pm or so. More on the traveling.

The traveling party had lots of interest from family members but no one took the nibbles. Because I want to travel on the 1st, my best friend cannot be off of work the first full week of the year. My best friend is Morgan’s mother. Guess she wont have the week with her child. Morgan has to move back inot her dorm after winter break on January 12 so we want to be home by the 9th if possible..
Dates of trip-January 1-9th 2015.

How to get to Florida
So the travel party is 3. Mom, Morgan and I.
How do we get 3 of us to Florida? We usually fly as it is 11 hours in a car. However it will cost a lot less to drive than to fly into Sanford and rent a car. Mom travels with a wheelchair. It is much simpler at times to drive to the park than to ride the bus. We also get closer to the park entrance at times with handicapped parking than where the resort buses let out. I have done both and will probably do both this time.
So we will drive. Morgan is becoming a great driver so I will have a second driver for the trip down. Morgan’s mom is off January 1 so she has agreed to bring Morgan to me about 5-6 am in January 1. (Morgan lives over an hour away from us) Mom and Morgan both sleep well in the car. So I would like to get Morgan and Mom tucked in to sleep a while and drive until 9-10 then stop to eat. Once Mom wakes up, we will get her out of the car to at least walk around it every hour to hour and one half. Even stopping fot 2-3 meal breaks and at least 1 potty break, we should make it to Maitland or Deland by 8 pm even with all the breaks.

Here is where I need your help. For all you readers that live in Maryland, Virginia and North and South Carolina, I need some help. I see too routes to go from my house. 220 s to 73 to 95 to I 4 or 220 to 85 to 77 to 26 to 95. The second route is more western. The second route is 1 minute more than the first. Anyone go either way and have comments.
The reason for driving-one work, cheaper. I have a Nissan Rogue and have the all wheel drive for winter driving if needed. I have plenty of room for the chair and I can drive round trip for the same amount of money I could rent a car in Sanford. This is excluding the flights Down and back for 3 and the cost of luggage fees.

Next up: Where to Stay and Life in the Dark Side

 

[LuvEeyore]

Where to stay.
I looked at places to stay and was down to two places to stay.
Drury Inn and Suites or Royal Pacific Resort
After checking out Touring Plans predictions of Universals attendance on Jan. 2 and 3rd, 2015, I decided we would want Park to Park with Express Passes with Mom. This would minimize the amount of time we left Mom parked people watching and Morgan and I riding roller coasters and also minimize time in lines to allow longer rest breaks for Mom.

Any guesses which won out?



Yes Royal Pacific won out for one night.
Advantages
1) Location!! Location!!
2) Express pass for the two days
3) Early Entry
4) Ability to check in very early and use hotel perks from check in until park close on day of check out
Disadvantages
1) Cost(wasn’t any when I calculated the cost of the express pass)
2) Have to pay 20 dollars per day of parking
3) No meals included
We are staying at Royal Pacific on January 2, 2015. The plan is to get as close to Universal as possible on Jan 1 then get up early and check in early am at Royal Pacific Resort the hit the parks until our room is ready.
Plans for Universal are very flexible at this point. What we know is that Mom and I have not ever been to Universal so this is new for us. Morgan has been to both Universal and IOA. We will utilize the walk and boat ride. We will eat in the parks and at City walk and maybe the hotel. We would love to hear your suggestions of places to eat.

What we know priorities for us include:
Hogwarts
Diagon Alley
SuessVille
Seeing the Macy’s Parade
Everything else we can fit including roller coasters


We will have 2 day park to park tickets and be in Universal on Jan 2 and 3, 2015.

Up next: Animals Galore!

 

[LuvEeyore]

Animals Galore!!
The next big questions was where to stay. I was trying to get package but they wouldn’t be out till July so I hit the boards and started reading. Wanted to stay at a deluxe or DVC but the prices seemed to be outrageous. I mistakenly clicked on the Dave’s add on the DVC boards and like the idea so I googled places to rent DVC points.
I decided to us DVC Rental Store. We are working with Lindsey and staying at Kidani village in a studio. I got a deluxe standard view. Wanted to spend the difference in the cost of the savannah view in other ways ie food, backstage tours,etc.
16.photobucket.com/albums/k563/drysdaleo/DSC00349.jpg[/IMG][/URL]


Kidani will be our home beginning January 3-check out January 9, 2015 very early am.
I asked Morgan if she cared where she slept and she said anywhere but the floor as long as she is in Disney. I might just have to send Morgan and Mom to check out the layout of Kidani after we check in and put her pillow and blanket she takes everywhere with her in the bathtub.
My plans so far for January 3, 2015
Checkout of RPR-early entry
Universal/IOA until lunchtim or so
Get car from Valet at RPR and drive to Kidani
Check into Kidani in Afternoon. If room isn’t ready we will explore Kidani. We have a 5:05pm reservation for an early dinner at Saana.




Thanks photo bucket for the pictures!! Hope to be able to have my own pictures for the trip report.
Not sure what we will do after dinner. We may go to the grocery store or to Down Town Disney or explore and turn in early.

 

[LuvEeyore]

Been working overtime Guess I have a trip coming up and want the money to spend in January. Sorry I have gotten stagnant. I hope as I update again over the next few days that some of you readers will comment and follow along.

I have a couple of questions to ask of you all.
1) How do I put the links in the 2nd post to the chapters?
2) How do I put a link to my trip report in my signature?

Thanks for the help.

 

[LuvEeyore]

Daily Planning
So far here are the plans for each day

Dec. 31, 2014-Pack and go to bed early. I also have a contingency plan to be able to start the drive should a snowstorm be predicted and stay in route.
January 1, 2015-Travel Day
We are planning to meet Morgan early am and leave prior to 6am
We will probably leave Virginia by 220 south and go through Greensboro to I73S to I-95 S stopping frequently to walk around the car and frequent potty breaks and eating in route. Planning to spend the night in Daytona Beach. Morgan would like us to leave around 2 or 3 pm so we can have an hour or two of daylight on the Beach. Let’s see if that happens.
We are planning to stay in Daytona this night, preferably ocean front. Anyone know of great hotels we might like? Would you travel without a ressie on Jan 1 to Daytona?

January 2, 2015
Awaken before the chickens and drive to Orlando to Universal resort and check in between 6 and 7 am so we can enter a park early. I am planning to have packed what we need for today and tomorrow in a bag separate from the rest of the week’s clothing. We will store this bag with bell services and pick it up when we can get into our room and unload the w/c at check in, leaving everything else with the car.
Spend the Day at Universal/IOA
Priorities for this day:
Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley then use Hogwarts’s express to go to the opposite park
Catch Grinchmas today if possible
Macy’s Christmas Parade at 5:00 p.m.

January 3, 2015
I would like to get up and check out. I will probably leave luggage with bell services and get it from them when we pick up our car to leave.
Universal Priorities will be to do early entry to which ever Harry Potter land we didn’t get early into then go into the opposite park. I am doing this so that I can ride Hogwarts both ways. If we didn’t see Grinchmas the first day, then we will try the get in today.
I would like to leave the park by 1 p.m. We will get our luggage from bell services when we get the car. The off to Walt Disney World. We will go to Kidani and check in as early as possible.

January 4-8 will be designated Disney Days. We are only planning park, resort and Downtown Disney time as of this point. We are not planning on doing anything related to the marathon or going to the waterparks or Disney Quest.
January 9th Check out of Kidani before the chickens awaken to make the 11+ hour trip home.
Jan 10th reserve day in case of bad weather getting home and Morgan’s day to see her parents and younger siblings before returning to school. Laundry Day
Jan 11 Morgan packs up and heads back to Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA
Laundry day
Jan 12 Lee goes back to work and Morgan’s Classes start.

ADR’s as they stand
Jan 3, 2015 Dinner at Saana 5:05 pm

Jan 4, 2o14 Dinner at Cinderella’s Royal Table 5:20 pm to celebrate Morgan’s 20th Birthday. This is my birthday but the only day CRT is open this visit. I really didn’t want to use 1 day’s admission on the park hopper to go to dinner here
Jan 5, 2015 No ADR’s as of now
Jan 6, 2015 Waynama Safari at 3:30 pm with Dinner at Jiko. Mom loves to do the Tours and she has wanted to do an Animal Kingdom tour so she could see the animals up close. This is the compromise that everyone loved the idea of since we are staying at Kidani…And I get to eat at Jiko. All three of us are adventous eaters and love Boma. This seems a great way to do more than one thing or as Grandma used to say “kill two birds with one stone”
Jan. 7, 2015 Rose and Crown 7:45 view Illuminations from here
Jan 8, 2015 California Grill 7:15 pm this is where I wanted to eat for my Birthday!! I want to see Wishes from here.

Next up: Daily Disney Plans

 

[Dugette]

Hey, I popped over!

Plans sound good - especially interested to see how your AKL safari goes.

Can't say I know much about driving down or Universal or anything.

So nice of you to plan this trip for your mom and god-daughter!

 

[LuvEeyore]

Hey, I popped over!
Glad to have you here. I was thinking no one was going to join me!

Plans sound good - especially interested to see how your AKL safari goes. I will let you know. I will try to do a trip report.

Can't say I know much about driving down or Universal or anything.

So nice of you to plan this trip for your mom and god-daughter!

My Goddaughter is 20 and Mom thinks of her as a grandchild. I am doing something different this time. She isn't bring a friend. I keep hoping her Mom will join us for a couple of days.
Hope to have an up date this weekend.

 

[LuvEeyore]

Got a life update.
We have a short overnight trip planned in November the weekend before Thanksgiving to visit Morgan at college. She made the University Dance Theatre and will be performing. Looks like it will be a girls trip with Melissa-Morgan's mom, mom and I and maybe Morgan's grandma. Down one day and back the next.
We are going to Norfolk Va. Might add pics and review a hotel here.
Got run. I have lunch for the girls at work.

 

[LuvEeyore]

Daily Disney Plans

This is going to be a really laid back trip to WDW. Some basic planning and forethought but the only real plans are the priorities and fastpass +. So here goes what we are thinking.

Saturday
5:05 pm ADR for Sanaa. After dinner, we will probably run to the grocery store and grab a loaf of bread, some meat and cheese for sandwiches, some blueberry bagels and strawberry cream cheese, a case of water and some fruit. Maybe a few other snacks etc. We might look at going to Downtown Disney for a while.

Sunday
Maybe Animal Kingdom or Magic Kingdom in the am or maybe just sleep late then explore the resort for a couple of hours. This will depend upon whether or not I am able to get a fastpass for Be Our Guest.
PM-MK by 2:00 pm
Fastpass at 2:00 for Splash Mtn
?Festival of Fantasy Parade at 3 pm from Frontierland
FP+ for Peter Pan’s flight at 4:15-5:15
Dinner at Cinderella’s royal table for Morgan’s belated 20th B-day dinner
FP+ at 7-8 for Enchanted tales with Belle
Main street Electrical parade at either 8 or 10pm a
Wishes at 9pm.
The big things we want to accomplish this trip is to see the New Fantasyland. We have not been since it was completed so we would like to spend right much of our time here. We will also try to hit many of the old favorites. We may try to ride some rides after Wishes. I am not sure how we will feel and how Mom will be doing.

Life has been busy. I may try to update again after I get home tomorrow. I went to Norfolk VA this past Saturday and Sunday with Mom, my friend Melissa-Morgan's mom and Melissa's mother Anne. We left from Roanoke Saturday morning shortly after 10 am to go to Norfolk VA. Morgan was in a dance concert. We stopped so I could grab a shirt and Melissa found a pair of shoes. We went to the shopping center off I 64 in Waynesboro that has Marshalls, Kohl's and several other stores. We had lunch at McCallister's deli. Lunch was great. Anne and I had soup. Both the broccoli and cheddar soup and the fire roasted vegetable soups were delicious. I had 1/2 a cheese spud with it. The 1/2 potato was larger than most large baked potatoes I fix or get out. Melissa had 1/2 a potato and 1/2 a salad. Mom had a ham and cheese griller with a pear which she loved. Anne had 1.2 chicken salad sandwich with her soup which she said was delicious.

We then drove to Norfolk stopping one more time to change drivers and go to the bathroom. I drove from Roanoke to outside Richmond because I have lived from Roanoke to Waynesboro and outside of Richmond and know my way around fairly well. Melissa is learning Norfolk and I hate driving through the Hampton Roads tunnel so that is what she did.

Next up:daily Disney plans and More on the girls trip to Norfolk.

 

[LuvEeyore]

Monday
Animal Kingdom AM- Our priorities at Animal Kingdom are Expedition Everest and the Kilamanjaro Safari. We would also like to see both Lion King and Finding Nemo and spend some time in Dino land as this is the area I’ve only walked through. We have an 11:30 am ADR at Yak and Yeti. This is one I may change.
Hollywood Studios-PM
FP+ Star Tours 3:20-4:20
FP+ Toy Story Mania 4:55-5:55
FP+ Tower of Terror 6:35-7:35
We may try to go to Fantasmic. Of the nighttime shows, this is our least favorite. Morgan and I plan to try to ride Rock N Roller Coaster using singles line and maybe hit a couple of shows, meet a few characters and go to Animation Court yard as we would like to draw a character. Mom wants to ride the Great Movie Ride. We might try to see some of the Frozen event.

Tuesday
Epcot am for extra Magic hours.
Turtle Talk with Crush 9:40-10:40 FP+
Mission Space 10:40-11:40 FP+
Test track 11:45-12:45 FP+ after this we will head back to Kidani
Waynama Safari at AKL including dinner at Jiko. This starts like 3:30 and I was told not to plan anything else for this evening. If we finished dinner and wanted to do something else like go to DTD we would have time but would not have time for parks.

Changes and additions.

Morgan is driving to us which means we can take back roads and cut off another 30-minutes to hour of hour ride and leave at an awful early hour. This works well if the weather is good. If bad weather is threatening I'll just go down 220. This means if the dog is delivered New Year's eve to ring in the New Year with my brother then we may be leaving between 3-4 am. will have the car packed and ready to go the only thing we will need to do is to put Morgan's stuff in the car and get Mom in.

We have reserved a hotel in Daytona Beach-Perry's Ocean Edge resort and got a great rate of 79 dollars for the three of us. This is oceanfront property which Morgan and I will love.

Norfolk trip Update.

Sorry no pictures. We drove to Norfolk on November 22. We left Roanoke about 10:15. I drove the first park. This is going to sound crazy. I don't mind driving in big city's. 81 North to I 64 east can be crazy especially when Virginia Tech and University of Virginia have home football games. I drove the first part and Melissa drove the from outside Richmond to Old Dominion University. I hate the Hampton Roads Bridge and Tunnel and parallel parking. I live in the middle of nowhere. I can park in a field. I can drive in snow. I hate to park in a city!! I'll drive in LA if I don't have to parallel park.

We stopped in Waynesboro off of I64 and ran into a shopping center. I needed a t-shirt to wear under my sweater. We went in Ross and then had lunch at McCallister's Deli.

Sorry No pictures of lunch. Melissa had 1/2 an everything spud and 1/2 a speciality salad. She ate most of hers. She had a huge half of everything!!
Her Mom had the broccoli and cheddar soup and 1/2 a chicken salad. She loved the soup and said the chicken salad was very good and the bread was very fresh.
Mom had the ham and cheese toastie with a pear. The pear was fresh, washed and cut up for her. her sandwich was huge. Enough meat and cheese that I could have had a sandwich too. I got a bowl of the fire roasted veggie soup and 1/2 cheese sub with 1/2 tea and 1/2 lemonade to drink. I love their tea and lemonade. I have them use un-sweet tea. My meal was very good. After a potty break and lunch, we were off again.

We got to Norfolk about 3:30 and picked up Morgan. We went to check in the hotel. We stayed at the Sheraton Waterside on the club level. We were bad and used valet parking and very glad we planned to do that as the parade and marathon was that weekend. After checking in, we went back to campus and met Morgan's best friend since middle school Christy for dinner. I do not remember the name of the Mexican restaurant but it is on Monarch way. It was reasonably priced and very good. It was about 5:00 pm when we ordered. There was a home ballgame letting out so I know the restaurant was getting busy. Our waiter stood near our table and watched. It was weird having my waiter watch me eat. I had seafood enchiladas, Mom had a seafood taco salad, Christy had enchiladas I think and everyone else had a taco salad. The chips and salsa were also very good. The six of us ate 4 baskets of chips I think.
After dinner we went to Morgan's dorm and changed clothes and then went with her to the theater. She had to be there at 6:30 and the show did not begin until 8pm. I was impressed with the caliber of dancing these college students were able to accomplish. I am not a dancer!!! You don't want to torture yourself with watching me dance. I have seen a lot of dance recitals but this was so different. The costumes were simple and all reusable. The focus was not the music, the dancers or the props, the focus was on the dance and the emotions portrayed. These students did a great job. This was fourteen dollars and a five hour journey well spent. If ODU's theater and music programs are as good as the dance concert was, they are great.
Now for the program's down side-most of this concert was modern or some combination. One piece was really well executed but dark in emotions. There was one ballroom piece and one jazz piece.

Review of the Sheraton waterside.
The room was a queen double on club level. We were at the far end away from the elevators. Otherwise it was quiet, clean and well apportioned for our group. Downside. We wanted a roll away for Morgan who usually stays with me or her Mom when we go down and are staying in a hotel. Her mom has stayed in her dorm room with her when only she was going. Morgan sleeps on the couch and Melissa gets the bed. Well this time we knew we had 4 ladies in a room with 2 queen beds. Morgan decided she was staying with us anyway even if they hotel would not give us a roll away. They said the fire marshall would not allow them to us rollaways in a 2 queen room. Morgan hopped in the middle of her mom and grandma and was asleep in 5 minutes or less. Everyone seemed to sleep very well even on a first night in a hotel room.
We did not have the evening appeitzers on Saturday but did eat breakfast on Sunday. They had several cereals, yogurt, oatmeal, fresh fruit, bagels, muffins and danishes. There was coffee, cranberry, apple and orange juice and milk.

We took Morgan out to lunch and her roommate from last year met us. We had lunch at Morgan's favorite place on/near campus, Cane's Chicken. This place fixes amazing chicken strips. I don't say chicken strips are amazing often these are!! Chicken strips basket was 3 large strips, fries, cane's sauce and texas toast with a drink. This was a very good lunch. I think our lunch was 11 dollars for Mom and I. It did take a few minutes to get our fast food meal as they cook the food once you have ordered. This was my second trip to Cane's and it did not disappoint.

This was the trip to Norfolk.

Another Disney update tonight or by Friday night.

 

[MEK]

Hi Lee!

I didn't realize you had a PTR going on! Nice!

Your plans look great and what a wonderful way to spend winter break with your daughter. You are going to love Kidani. I've stayed there in a standard room and I just enjoyed all the general viewing areas. You can definitely get a good dose of animals that way!

Your plans look wonderful. Daytona beach will be lovely. I have friends that live there so I usually stay at their house. I have no hotel recommendations for you, but Daytona beach shores is a little less congested so you might want to look there.

Universal is going to be great!

I have no suggestions about driving because I'm not exactly sure where you live and we never drive.

Nice to hear your daughter loves Old Dominion. You are fortunate to have SO many great schools in your state.

My DH and I love Williamsburg. We visit there often. We have also visited the Mariner's museum in Newport News, which is fabulous if you ever get a chance to visit.

 

[LuvEeyore]

Hi Lee!

I didn't realize you had a PTR going on! Nice!
Thanks for coming over
Your plans look great and what a wonderful way to spend winter break with your daughter. You are going to love Kidani. I've stayed there in a standard room and I just enjoyed all the general viewing areas. You can definitely get a good dose of animals that way!
We are all looking forward Kidani.

Your plans look wonderful. Daytona beach will be lovely. I have friends that live there so I usually stay at their house. I have no hotel recommendations for you, but Daytona beach shores is a little less congested so you might want to look there.
I've been to Daytona Beach but it has been a long time.

Universal is going to be great! So looking forward to it. In fact I now wish I had another day there.

I have no suggestions about driving because I'm not exactly sure where you live and we never drive.

Nice to hear your daughter loves Old Dominion. You are fortunate to have SO many great schools in your state. Loves it! There are many great colleges in Virginia and a great state to visit.

My DH and I love Williamsburg. We visit there often. We have also visited the Mariner's museum in Newport News, which is fabulous if you ever get a chance to visit.

I used live close enough to go for the day. Williamsburg and tidewater are so much fun. Nautalis in Norfolk is great. So is the Chrysler Museum (art) The Abby is a great place to eat.

 

[LuvEeyore]

28 days til we travel29 days til Universal1 month until Kidani at WDW

 

[LuvEeyore]

I just scored!!No not a high score on Toy Story ManiaI scored a Lunch fast pass to Be Our Guest on My Birthday!! Morgan is celebrating her 20th Birthday at CRT that evening and I get Be Our Guest. Lunch is 10:30-11:00 am window and Dinner is 5:15 pm so I think this should work well. If we get to the park at Rope Drop for the show then we can get a couple of hours and by 10:30 am we will be hungry!!
I called Morgan a few minutes ago and we preordered lunch!! I have never before ordered on the ninth of one month what I would eat on the fourth on the next month!!Well the party is on!!

On to more exciting news. The magic bands have arrived and have been put in the stockings

 

[Dugette]

Yay, that sounds like a great day of eating in castles! Congrats on scoring that. And getting Magic Bands in the stockings!

 

[LuvEeyore]

Yay, that sounds like a great day of eating in castles! Congrats on scoring that. And getting Magic Bands in the stockings!

That was a great score...especially when tired. I have worked the last 4 days(12 hours) and know what my schedule looks like for the next 3 weeks so that was a score. Morgan's boyfriend must think we are both crazy as we are discussing on December 9 what we are eating on January 4th at 10:30 am and strategically planning the cupcake selection. WE decided on 3 different cupcakes. Yes we did preorder...I didn't plan my entrée to well though...Mom and Morgan can both eat mine I can't even take a bite of theirs-I am allergic

 

[LuvEeyore]

Wednesday
Animal Kingdom-AM with extra magic hour
Leave between 11-1 depending on what we have accomplished
Epcot this evening with Illuminations viewing from Rose and Crown where we have an ADR at 7:45 p.m.
FP 3-4 The Seas with Nemo and Friends
FP 4:35-5:35 pm Soarin
FP 6:20-7:20 Spaceship earth

Thursday
Extra Magic Hour at Magic Kingdom
FP 9:10-10:10 Space Mountain
FP 10:45-11:45 am Seven Drarfs Mine train
FP 12noon-1pm meet Anna and Elsa

If we didn’t see festival of Fantasy Parade on Sunday then we will catch it today.
We will leave by 3 pm or so today as we will need to pack the car and be ready to leave in the am very early…I am hoping by 5am as we will be driving all the way home today so Morgan can have Saturday with her family and then she will leave to go to school Sunday afternoon.
We also have a 7:15 pm dinner reservation at California Grill.

These plans are not set in stone and if we accomplish something without a FP+ that is on our list of FP then we will try to replace it with a FP of another attraction. Morgan and I both have smart phones and I have the app on my phone already and she’ll get the app for both universal and WDW in the next week.
Packing fun!!
I will gradually pack in the next 3 weeks. I have Mom’s wheel chair and I will put it back in the car this week while I am on my 5 days off. I bought a 31 stroller bag that works on it perfect that I will put on the back to hold essentials while we are in the park. I have two new memory cards in my stocking for the trip. When at the beach we went to a Disney store outlet and we each have new t shirts. I have packed a bag for Mom for the first two days (our car trip, Daytona night and Universal night) This is ready except for meds, undies and shoe.

I packed a snack bag for the car and room today


This arrive on Monday

Up next: Priorities, Changes and other information


C

 

[LuvEeyore]

Morgan comes home tomorrow.
15 days til Christmas:santa
20 days til my Vacation starts
10 days to work
3 call shifts and
only
22 days til we leave: