Mom/Daughter Disneyland Fans’ First Time to the World July 2016 PTR

[adventuregirl]

Have you ever had one of these moments? I have a feeling some of you may be able to relate…



I was having my fair share of these days as a burned out physician – so we decided to move across the world and start living life to the fullest!


Hello from the Southern Hemisphere and the sandy shores of Eastern New Zealand where I have just booked my first trip to Disney World! It will also be the first Disney World trip for my Mom, who will be joining me on this adventure.


Me, Adventuregirl, (on our most recent adventure in January, 2016)





My Mom (same trip)

 

[adventuregirl]

Sorry - pictures are huge...I'll fix that

Anyway, to continue,


I wanted to do a PTR for advice and reassurance, as my trip is just 40 days away. Because I am new to WDW, I look forward to hearing many tips and anecdotes regarding our holiday. Please forgive my stumbles and fumbles through the process.


I have lurked for ages on these boards and have planned many imaginary trips on the Disney website. Since we moved to New Zealand, however, I put my Disney World dreams aside as a trip for a family of four is quite an endeavour from across the world. We have done other adventures in lieu of Disney in the meantime, but it has always been hovering in the background until it just burst through! (more on that later).


Introductions (outside of the giant pictures!)


Myself:


First Disney Experience (that I can remember) – being traumatized by the Sorcerer’s Apprentice


First Best Disney Experience – driving in a caravan to Disneyland with my “mainland” cousins at the age of 6 and seeing who could spot the Matterhorn first (it was the ‘70s).


Character – Sorcerer Mickey (I appreciate the irony)

Princess – Belle, because she loves books

Park – TBD

Ride - At Disneyland, it is Pirates of the Caribbean


Mom:


My Mother’s family is from California, so we have always been Disneyland people. I grew up in Hawaii, but would visit the Grands in the summer and we would drive from the Bay area to Disneyland. My Mom (and her family) first went in the late 1950’s and the whole lot of them have been fans ever since.


On our most recent Girl's trip to Disneyland (October 2014; Mom, DD, Aunt)

 

[adventuregirl]

How the Magic Came to Be


I see my Mom at least 2 times per year. She visits once a year and I meet her somewhere in the world where she has never been. It gives her an opportunity to travel, which she did not really do until after she was 65 (and I’m not complaining). However, I realized recently that I have not seen my Dad in 5 years (he won’t fly). Living far from my family has been about the only negative to moving to New Zealand (that and really small washing machines). I had already taken leave for July without specific plans, so I thought I should combine a US trip with an educational conference and visit my family. I began searching conferences and there was one right smack in the middle of my leave at Disney World! This left me time to visit my Dad for a week after the conference.



Trip July 12-18, 2016 (aka the HOTTEST, MOST HUMID, MOST CROWDED time of year)


Resort: Grand Floridian garden view room. Whenever I made pretend reservations at WDW, I never even considered GF. It just wasn’t what I pictured on a Disney Holiday. However, this is where the conference is located complete with conference room rates. Easy decision.


Plan:

July 12 Arrive Orlando – stay in Cabana Beach Resort, Universal

(car rented for the week)


July 13

- Early Park Admission to Universal to explore Harry Potter

- Afternoon – Target (not having a Target in NZ is probably the reason I can afford to travel…only slightly kidding).

- More Afternoon - Check into Grand Floridian Garden View Room (Big Pine Key, non-dormer)

- Evening – explore the grounds ?Disney Springs or pool/drinks


July 14 – Magic Kingdom (full day with afternoon pool and slushy drink break)

Only two fast passes booked so far – Dwarf and Space Mountain. The third will either be for Pirates or Haunted Mansion. I wanted to use the third for Wishes, but it is no longer available as a fast pass. Unfortunately, it was too late to book the dessert party, so no luck (yet…pixie dust wishes someone cancels and we get in!).


July 15

- Me - Morning Conference (ends at 12:40), Mom – pool and probably slushy drinks

- Afternoon/Evening Animal Kingdom (yay new hours!)

- Fast passes for Everest, Lion King and Evening Safari (7:10pm)

-

I was keen to see RoL, but….Jungle Book doesn’t seem worth the fast pass


July 16

- Morning conference (ends 12:40)

- Afternoon/Evening Epcot

- Fast passes for Mission Space, Soarin’ and Spaceship Earth. I’m sad Illuminations and Soarin’ are in the same group, but Soarin’ in California is one of my Mom’s favourite rides, so I will try to get a 4th pass on the app for Illuminations later.


July 17

- Morning conference (ends at 10am this day)

- Afternoon - Disney Hollywood Studios

- Evening – Dinner at Citricos with friends

- Fast Passes ToT, Star Tours, Beauty and the Beast


I love Fantasmic at Disneyland, but will have to pass on this one. If the Star Wars fireworks are scheduled around that time, I may shuffle things a bit.


July 18

- Departure day



Tickets – already purchased for 4 days – non-park hopper

 

[adventuregirl]

Concerns:


1. Afternoons in the Park


I have always been a rope-drop girl. We usually arrive at the park at least 45 minutes before opening. We have our Disneyland/California Adventure system down so that we can do every ride we want before 11 am and have our fast passes ready for the afternoon. We leave the park at about 2 pm and return at 5 pm until close. Then do it again and again until we leave. While I appreciate the conference, I will have to go to 3 of the parks in the afternoon! In July! Ack. I know that with the FP+ system, at least we can do 3 great features each day, but I feel lost.


I keep telling myself that this is a taster session before bringing the children along. At least, I had to tell them that I will be getting the “lay of the land” so I would know what to do when we all went together.


2. Heat


July. In Florida. We had high 80’s this summer and I thought I had been cast into the fiery depths. Granted, air conditioning is an afterthought in these parts so I’m telling myself the AC will make all the difference. That and grown up slushy drinks.



Food:


In the time I have perused the boards I noticed food is a central feature of trip reports and planning. I really enjoy well-prepared food, especially with fresh yummy ingredients, but dining has not been integral to my Disney experience (I understand this may be considered blasphemy). I thought about Victoria and Albert’s (the menu looks wonderful), but dinner for two with wine pairings + tips = new iPad for my Mom, and I really want to get her that for her 75th Birthday (pre-installed with whatsapp to text the grandkids). So I have made only 1 ADR. Looks like counter service, snacks and grown-up slushy drinks! And champagne. And desserts. (I’ll take pictures).

 

[adventuregirl]

Updated my plans tentatively...

It looks like the Star Wars fireworks are on for summer - but July dates have not been posted. I would love to attend the dessert party and am checking the dates frequently (obsessively?). Anyone have any idea when those dates may be posted?

I look forward to hearing from some knowledgeable DIS folks!

 

[ariane37]

Hi there! I'm joining in because I LOVE the excitement that comes when someone is planning their first trip I also think it's wonderful that you're going with your mom, and that you get to travel so much with her. AND, I'm jealous you're staying at the GF because, after years of not being interested in staying there it has recently become a resort I really do want to experience. We tried renting points there for our Nov. trip but we waited too long. I've been there before for meals and it's absolutely gorgeous!

Now I'm no expert but I'll speak to some of your concerns as far as my opinion

1. Afternoons in Parks: yes, normally not the suggested time to get there, especially for 1st timers. However since there's really no way around it for you, you have it right that with your initial 3 FP's you'll get 3 of the more popular (or popular to you) rides in, and hopefully find good 4th, 5th, etc. FP availability for attractions you want. The other thing going for you with it being July is that many people go for RD and take a break in the afternoons. Not to make you think the parks will be empty by any means, but there will be a significant # of guests who leave when you're getting there. Also if you plan to stay late in the parks the crowds should go down somewhat so lines won't be crazy.

2. Heat. I HATE the heat Like really, really, really despise it and normally don't go outside once it hits 80 degrees. We'd never gone to WDW during a hot month until Aug. 2014 due to oldest DS entering Jr. High. I was very nervous and afraid I'd be miserable, but ended up pretty pleasantly surprised at how well I handled it. It was freakin' hot, and sometimes downright uncomfortable, but that uncomfortable feeling didn't happen as often as I thought it would. We'd planned on taking a mid-day break every day which wasn't the norm for us; after day 2 we stopped that because we realized we could handle the whole day in the parks just by planning well.

3. Food. Yes, for many of us who go often food is a big part of our trips. There are so many great places to eat!! And like many others, my family loves to eat On the other hand there are plenty of folks who only do QS, whether its because of price, because they don't want to waste too much park time sitting in restaurants, because they don't mind QS, or just rather spend their $$ on things more important to them than food. Since your trip is on the short side and you don't have full days for the parks, I don't think there's anything wrong with only having one ADR. What's more important is that you're planning on many grown-up slushy drinks

4. SW fireworks and dessert party. First of all, if you can manage to see them, see them! We saw them in January and they were fantastic. Granted the ones in January will be different but I guarantee they'll still be fabulous. As for the dessert party we haven't done one in years so I don't follow how far ahead of time they open the dates, sorry! Hopefully someone else will come along and answer that one.

Hope I helped just a bit! I'll be following along as you continue to plan!