Good Happy Monday everyone!!
I have some time to myself this morning--Megan is fast asleep--so I thought I would post the few pics that I have to share from yesterday's walk, and post my thorough itinerary as it is right now. SO ENJOY!!!
Like I said yesterday, my camera was acting very funny yesterday--I think the battery was running low, so please excuse the poor quality and the lack of good pics--I am still waiting to get the pics from my mom's camera phone--I started taking pics with that when mine started spazzing out on me, so she has all the good ones! I will post those later!!!
Here is a horrible shot of us starting the walk--I say horrible because all you can really see is the back of Tom---Megs is down in the stroller---and you can't even see the great MOD banner and bandana we used to decorate the stroller. It was hard to get a good one to take, so I just kept clicking, and wouldn't you know it that the one that took, doesn't really show you ANYTHING!!! UGH! Sorry it is crooked--I kept rotating it in photobucket, but it still shows up like this when I paste it--frustrating!
Okay--just edited today 04/29 because now the picture is the right way!!! GO FIGURE!
Here is a semi-decent (a little dark) picture of Mike's kids at lunch after the walk. We went over to the Newport, KY side of the river and ate at this great restaurant on the river called Buckhead Grille----great food in case you are ever in the area, and a beautiful view of downtown Cincy!
Here is the best shot I got all day--Maddie and Josh at lunch!! How SWEET!! The green bandana in her hair is one of our family team bandanas for Megs--we all wore one!! The boys tied theirs on like pirates--they looked so handsome!!! The kids really enjoyed doing the walk--Josh told my mom that he was going to take in his bandana and goody bag from the walk today to school to share his experience with his class--isn't that sweet!! They really do love their cousin Megan--and she loves them all SO much!!! I wish I could have had a picture of all four of them after they ate lunch--they were all sitting at the end of the big corner booth we were in, and they all sunk into food comas!!! They all about fell asleep waiting for us all to finish eating--it was so cute! Mike and I said that was foreshadowing of the way they would all look after dinner each night down at WDW!
This is the only "good" pic of Megs I got on my camera. I think she was feeling the sleepy bug creeping up, so she decided to be goofy so she wouldn't POSSIBLY fall asleep!!
I will post the other pics from mom's camera as soon as I get them. They are MUCH better!
ON TO THE ITINERARY!!!!!!!!! Just remember, all info is subject to change--this is a representation of my ideas/thoughts/plans, but I have not had any chance to confer with Mike on these arrangements--so MUCH will probably change once he has added his input. (Sidenote: I know that some of the times are not 100% accurate because I will not have the accurate times from Steve Soares' site until closer to the trip, but I made do with what is currently posted.)
Okay, so we start out the itinerary with a small dilemma. Since we are not sure EXACTLY what time we will be getting in, most things are just hypothetical scenarios. Once we get checked in, most of us were originally thinking about just hanging out around the resort--swimming and such, and possibly heading over to DTD for a little browsing. Our ADR is for Turf Club at SSR at 7pm--so we are just a boat ride away from either OKW or DTD no matter what. Now that Kristi is coming, she really wants to head over to MK that first night since it is open until 2am. Of course that is a possibility, but I don't know if it is a wise move--it would use up the ticket we planned on using for the last Saturday, and it would mean hitting MK on a Saturday EMH night--would it be crazy crowded? (I think the Gay Days crowd is also scheduled to be at MK that night, so would that mean an even bigger crowd at MK than expected?) We have already purchased our 7 day tickets, so is it possible to add on a day once there, and if so, is it ridiculously expensive to do that? I am still leaning towards swimming and shopping, but I would love the input/advice anyone could provide in regards to these plans------THANKS!!!
Okay--onward!!
Sunday June 8: Disney Hollywood Studios
Again, we are hitting the HS today for the Star Wars weekend events, but I am not sure how to fit those in my intended itinerary since I don't know what all to expect for the Star Wars added events. Please help those who have been there before!
- DHS opens at 9am--and we will definitely be there at rope drop to catch the Star Wars related pre-show I have heard so much about.
- After the rope drop, I plan on heading back to Mickey Avenue to catch "Toy Story Mania." Hopefully we will be able to avoid much of a wait!!!
- If possible, hit the Voyage of Little Mermaid at 9:20 or second show 9:38?
- Then try to hit 10:30 Playhouse Disney show--kids can get autographs while waiting for show. (If we have some time to wait, a runner--me--can run over with everyone's tickets and get FP for both ToT and RnRR--split tickets 5 FP for each ride.)
- After show, visit Great Movie Ride
- Good time to have lunch--recommend either ABC Commissary or Backlot Express
- May need to split for a bit--Boys' to 1:30 Jedi Training/Megan to Woody 'N Buzz meet 'n greet @ 1:25pm.
- Do Muppets 3D
- Do Star Tours (time permitting)
- Catch Pixar Parade at 3pm
- After this, might be a good idea for those who want to do RnRR and ToT to go back to use FP. (get Parent Swap passes too!)
- Also try to catch HSM2 Show at 4:35pm.
- Dinner at Sci Fi diner @ 5:20pm.
Now I know this schedule is probably WAY too ambitious for traveling in June, but since I haven't been there in June, I don't know what to expect. It is hard trying to make this also not knowing how to shuffle in what Mike and the kids want to do/not do, what Star Wars events will interfere, and how to hit things like ToT and RnRR that not every one wants to do. Okay, now that I think about it, I think this is TOTALLY unrealistic--I guess hashing it out in black and white helps point out the flaws. I originally thought that I would want to do a break in the middle of the day, but now I am thinking--since this is our only DHS day and Megs doesn't want to do Fantasmic--we might tour as much as possible during the day, and at least the three of us can leave early to go back and chill out and swim--is this wise though?!?! This day, is our toughest I think, because there are so many things that require a chunk of time that we want to do-----HELP!!! I feel like my OCD planning skills are failing me here--it's beginning to unravel!! Before I go on with DHS days, I think I need some advice--those who have been in June before, can you weigh in on these plans---MIKE--can you weigh in on what you want to do?!?!?
Monday, June 9: Magic Kingdom
Okay, as I have said before, I am not going to hash out too much for MK days, because Megan loves pretty much everything here, and we will probably be here at least 3-4 days during the trip--we should have plenty of time to catch it all and then some. So, we will just move around the world I guess based more on what the kids & Mike really want to take in--SO MIKE INPUT AWAY!! The only guidelines that I have for this day are the following:
- We need to do lunch around 11:15, and I think the best bet for today would be Pinocchio's due to its' proximity to the castle.
- The girls have their BBB at 12:40 (need to be dressed and ready and there by 12:25). We are doing the Crown package for each of them--Megan says she is wearing her Tinkerbell costume, and I believe Maddie wants to get a Belle costume for this before we go.
- The next thing we NEED to hit is dinner at Kona at 5:00--YEAH THE MONORAIL!!!
- Tonight we HAVE to hit Spectromagic at 9pm--the only night at MK that it is showing---and WISHES!!!
- The park closes at 11pm, and I do see us spending the whole day here without a break because of how much Megs loves it here. If she needs a rest--away to TTA for a quiet ride!
Tuesday, June 10: EPCOT
Epcot will be a definite break day today for us--I see us breaking back to our hotel sometime around 2-3pm for swim/nap/get changed for dinner.
- We will be at the 9am rope drop, and I hope to do Spaceship Earth right away--is the line really too long in the AM? Should we do this later in the day?
- Normally we head into the Living Seas first, but I was thinking we could still do this, but we would need to send one runner over to The Land to get a FP for Soarin'. We would do the Nemo ride and Turtle Talk with Crush while in the aquarium.
- After we were done with the SEAS, it might be a good time to head to the LAND--either do Soarin' first if FP are ready, or do the LAND ride first--whatever we need to do to use FP appropriately. I think Sunshine Seasons would also be a good place to have lunch, so we could fit that in appropriately as well.
- After the LAND, head over to the Imagination Pavilion to catch the ride--Megan won't want to do HIStA--gets scared.
- We will also want to hit Test Track before we break if possible, and I don't mind doing Mission SPACE with those who might want to--Tom will want to bow out on that!!!
- Megs can't handle the dinosaurs at ENERGY, but I think the boys might like it MIKE--FYI. So really after Test Track, we could easily be done with FW--from Megs' perspective. We might try to hit the character meet 'n greet near Innoventions at some point, but that will only depend on the lines.
- Once we are "done" with FW, Tom, Megs, and I will probably head back for a break.
- We will probably come back around 5-6ish so that we can take in Mexico and Norway before our dinner at Akershus at 7:55--Megan will be decked out in her Snow White attire!!
- After dinner, we will enjoy walking around Epcot until close!!!
Wednesday, June 11: Magic Kingdom
Again, no real set agenda--I am hoping to take another mid-day break around 2pm--we'll see how well that works! I would like to come back to the park for our dinner ADR at Tony's at 5:35pm. And then stay at the park until closing around 11pm.
Thursday, June 12: Animal Kingdom
Obviously hit the park at rope drop, and GO GO GO!! When we did this park last year, I felt like we were constantly zig zagging--for no real reason! We went all the way back to the safaris in the AM, and then went willy-nilly from there! Here are the things we want to hit:
- Kilimanjaro safaris
- Kali River Rapids
- Dinosaur ride
- Nemo Musical
- Expedition Everest
- Festival of the Lion King
We have a zoo membership, so I don't feel like we HAVE to really do the trails or the jungle trek, but obviously will take them in if time allows. For those of you who have been in June before, would it be better to go all the way to the back and work up to the front or vice versa?!?!? We obviously will probably getting FP for EE, what else is necessary for FP, and what do you think we could probably handle the wait in the Standby line?!?!?!
We will be leaving the park around 5ish to go to AKL for dinner at Boma at 6:20pm--we will be exploring the lobby and animal watching until dinner time! We will then go back to hotel after dinner, and go for some late night swimming!!! YEAH!!!
Friday, June 13: OPEN day
Mike and I originally chose this as our "open" day--I think he might take his kids to a water park--Tom and I will undoubtedly be going back to MK with Megan.
Mike has mentioned before that he has something "special" planned for this day for everyone--but no one knows what it is, so I hope if he is still planning on something, everyone's different plans don't interrupt the surprise. HEY BIG BRO--can you give me a hint?!?!?!
We do have a dinner at Ohana planned at 6:50pm that night--YEAH!!!
Maybe we can catch the Electric Water pageant this night?!?!!
Saturday, June 14: Magic Kingdom
We have to check out today--boo!!! BUT, Tom and I have already decided that we will probably go back to MK for at least part of this day before heading home. I am not sure how long we will stay--maybe until dinner time, but I am sure we will try to catch as many of Megs' favorites before we go! Then, we will start the trek back home!!!
Okay everyone, it is very sketchy--I need some help/advice/input--especially from my June experts. MIKE, I need your input on what you have planned/or would like to do!! Remember--Megs has already been there, I really want to make sure we hit all the things you all want to do.
Okay---I need to hop off here for awhile--but I look forward to everyone's input and responses!! TIA! JEN
It HAS to work!! Right?!?!?
Here's an early Mother's Day Wish for you!!! My parents have always been together, but we too have gone through some rocky and rough times--both emotionally and financially--and to see them come through everything and so many things going well for them, is a child's dream come true!! I can truly appreciate how difficult it must have been for you--like I said before, my bro is a single dad of 3--11, 9, & 8--and I am always amazed by how he juggles it all--career, kids, EVERYTHING ELSE that goes along with parenting!! 
I bow down to single parents everywhere, because you all are so amazing! That is also why I am so excited for Mike on this trip--he has worked so hard, juggled so much with the kids, and it is so awesome that he can finally take them to WDW! (Brings a tear to my eye everytime I think about it!)
love this, so funny!!! 
, and I agree, Mike deserves this trip more than any of us!
I think you really could be onto something!
