Mother Daughter 1st Trip to WDW at Xmas Pre-TR

[GenGen22]

So here's my story... Me and DD15 have been wanting to go to WDW ever since we went to DL the first time together and we were supposed to go about 5 years ago but work didn't allow me to go and it got cancelled. This time I was destined to go and not gonna let anyone get in my way. This is our first annual vacation together. Next year were thinking about going to DLR at Halloween time and attending MNSSHP, but we will see.

I wanted to add that we have never stayed at a Disney hotel. At DLR (where we have been many times) we always stay offsite but because we are leaving the BF and his 2 boys at home we're trying to do more stuff as it's cheaper for 2 than for 5.

Here are our Florida plans:

Do online check in for ME
Do online check in for flights and pay for baggage fees online in advance.
Do online check in to POP in advance.


Day 1: Arrival at 5:15PM take ME to POP & check in room and drop off carry on bags. Then head to DTD via Bus to see Cirque Du Solil La Noubla at 8:30 and before we will shop around at the shops and have a late dinner at Planet Hollywood.

Day 2: eat breakfast at food court in POP and head to Epcot.
Dinner at Teppan Edo at 7:10 & shows to see will be Illuminations at 9:30 and the Seas with Nemo and friends

Day 3: Breakfast at Cape May at 8:00 and then off to Animal Kingdom & shows to see with be Festival of the lion king
after AK closes go to Captins Grill for Dinner at 6:20 and then hop over to MK for EMH. (View XMAS decorations at BC & YC when we go for meals)

Day 4: eat breakfast at Chef Mickey at 9:40am (View XMAS decorations at Contemporary after meal) (whoo hoo some sleepin' in) Then off to MK eat Dinner at Tony's Town Square, then off to MVMCP to see Xmas parade and wishes and all the other fun stuff at the party

Day 5: Take taxi to Sea World & eat breakfast there. After SW closes take taxi to Arabian Nights for Dinner at 8:30 & taxi back to POP.

Day 6: eat breakfast at food court at POP and take shuttle to/from Islands of Adventure. Watch Grinchmas show and partake in The Grinch activities.

Day 7: eat breakfast at food court at POP and head to Hollywood Studios and have dinner at 50's Prime Time Cafe at 5:50 park hop to Epcot for EMH.

Day 8: Eat breakfast at 1900 Park Fare at 8:20 (View XMAS decorations at GF after meal) Head to MK eat Dinner at Crystal Palace & shows to see Electrical Parade at 9:00

Day 9: eat breakfast at food court at POP and then head to HS. Eat Lunch at Mama Melrose at 12:00 for Fantasmic Dining package & shows to See Fantasmic!!

Day 10: eat breakfast at food court at POP and then take a shuttle to/from Universal Studios Shows to see Tha Macys Day Parade and Visit Holiday village. Eat Dinner in restaurant in City Walk Maybe Nascar or Hard Rock Cafe.

Day 11: Take ME to airport for flight at 7:20am.

I have a list of CS restaurants if we want to eat lunch or another meal as we have the DP and also a list of cool snacks and where to buy them. I'm thinking for snacks I could wait and buy chocolate goodies for taking home to everyone as we love the Disney chocolatiers and what they can create.

 

[disneegrl4eva]

Im hereeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee and Im in

good plan..now lets see how much of it you can actually stick with...hey so since you are going over to IOA I suppose you are doing WWHP right??? can you bring me some butterbeer???? I really wanted to go and get some but alas its not in the cards this time around...

I cant believe its almost time...and how funny that we are basically going to be coming from same place and being there same time...great minds think alike

 

[GenGen22]

Im hereeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee and Im in

good plan..now lets see how much of it you can actually stick with...hey so since you are going over to IOA I suppose you are doing WWHP right??? can you bring me some butterbeer???? I really wanted to go and get some but alas its not in the cards this time around...

I cant believe its almost time...and how funny that we are basically going to be coming from same place and being there same time...great minds think alike

Yes, I am going to WWOHP. We both love Harry Potter. To get ready we did a Harry Potter marathon here at home...lol Actually we wouldn't have gone to Universal either cuz adding 2 more park days that aren't Disney costs a lot but on my Chase checking they had a rewards program that had either SW or Universal park hoppers. So, I saved all my points and had enough to get me and DD 2 days. Well the good thing about you is you is you have a friend in FL so, you will definately be back and can visit IOA I know my trip is a commando style trip but I wanted to do as much as possible as I don't know if we will ever be back as the trip is so expensive. I know we can handle the long days as we have done it at DL and other amusement parks before and we are used to getting up early and staying awake until 1-2am on a regular basis. I can't wait, it is so close!!!! YAY!!!!!

 

[GenGen22]

I wanted to add in a few things I did in planning and budgeting/looking around for discounted things to make my trip to be all that I wanted it to be.

First Here are the changes I made and why...

Originally I had booked All Stars Music as me and DD love music and if its warm enough we really wanted to swim in the piano pool but even with all my research I didn't realize that Pop Warner will be checking in the same day as us and were to stay at the same hotel and I heard about the nightmares of kids running down the halls in the middle of the night knocking on doors (which would absolutely ruin my trip as me and DD don't function very well witthout our beauty rest) So, unfortunately we had to make a decision and change the hotel. I read a lot of people always raving about POP so, we decided to stay there instead

Also, without reading the reviews and only the menu I had booked Hollywood & Vine for my fantasmic dining package and after reading how terriable it was I kept checking for a open reservation for Mama Melrose and finally just recently I was able to reserve it and cancel Hollywood & Vine. So far those have been the only changes I have made.

I do have to admit that I thought about changing some of the days around because SW has an holiday ice show and I just found out about this and really wanted to see it but it ended up weighing out to (do I want to stay at SW until 11pm or a Disney park until that time) and it was a no brainer Disney wins.

So onto the budgeting and discounts I found... I got my Universal tickets
free through my chase debit rewards program (AWESOME) I got my Cirque Du Solil tickets and Arabian Nights tickets through Undercover Tourist at a great price. I got my SW tickets through the AAA site and for $3 more I got a meal deal and 2nd day free (I'm not gonna use the secound day cuz I wont have time to) I also found some coupons for restaurants in Universal City Walk. And I bought 2 starter sets of Disney pins for pin trading from ebay.

 

[GenGen22]

It's 30 days until my trip today!!!!! Whoot Whoot
: I Can't wait!!!!!!

 

[GenGen22]

I know this isn't exactly a added planning tool like making an ADR but today I bought a new zip up hoodie which had this wool like material inside, which will be really warm for those late nights at WDW and MVMCP. I also bought some new shoes I bought Nike air max shoes. I made sure to buy them 30 days in advance so, I can break them in. They are a shoe made for running and comfort. I think these will really help with all the walking I am planning to do (11 days worth). Here is a link for anyone who wants to check it out: http://www.finishline.com/store/cat...D&origin=pla&gclid=CJzO0snSnqwCFQJ8hwod6yJnBg

Now all I need are some gloves

 

[disneegrl4eva]

heya GenGen....well our trip is coming up on us quick isnt it??? Im getting more excited by the minute...also I really need a break away from here...Im dealing with some stuff thats really put a damper on me and Im feeling depressed so I need it....sounds like you made a good decision to move but arent they staying at the all star sports complex this year???? I swear I heard mention that they were....

Im glad you got to move your ADR to MM...I think from the sounds of it you will enjoy it much better....

Ive been so busy I barely updated my TR...I forgot to add this one to my subscriptions so I forgot about it till now so thats why I havent posted ....hope your weekend is going well and will speak soon....

 

[GenGen22]

So I am soooo totally excited to add this update to my TR. My best friend from when I was a teenager found me on facebook and contacted me yesterday and believe it or not she lives in Florida!!!! So, her and her dd who is a year younger than my dd are going to meet us and spend a day together while Im there in FL.... I really can't wait... This just makes my trip even more special to see a long lost best friend. She was the friend that was closer to me than any one of my friends. I just wished she lived closer. I said this would probably be my only trip to FL & now I'm rethinking it as I write this... I can now see an annual trip to FL!!!!

 

[GenGen22]

So I have made a change to my plans. On the night I arrive I will not be eating at Planet Hollywood. I have cancelled my reservation as my bff will be meeting up with me & DD in DTD so we are going to eat at Wolfgang Puck express instead and go to Planet Hollywood on 12/8 after getting back from IOA (this will save some money as far as eating goes at IOA too since we are on the DDP we can eat at Intermission food court for breakfast before we go to IOA and PH for dinner after IOA. I can't believe it's only 18 more days!!!! I am sooooo excited!!!!

 

[Cin]

Your trip sounds like great fun. I'd love to tag along! What a wonderful surprise that your friend will be able to meet up with you and spend some Disney time.

 

[disneegrl4eva]

wow you wrote 2 posts and they never showed up on my subscription list...it was only when Cin posted that I got the notification...anyways, yay for you finding your friend and being able to hang out with her while your at wdw...I cant wait its almost time GenGen...Ive got to go over and do an update too..had a change of plans on my end here too

 

[GenGen22]

Your trip sounds like great fun. I'd love to tag along! What a wonderful surprise that your friend will be able to meet up with you and spend some Disney time.

Thanks and Welcome Cin!

wow you wrote 2 posts and they never showed up on my subscription list...it was only when Cin posted that I got the notification...anyways, yay for you finding your friend and being able to hang out with her while your at wdw...I cant wait its almost time GenGen...Ive got to go over and do an update too..had a change of plans on my end here too

i keep forgetting to subscribe to the threads so, I never know when someone has wrote something. I just have to check once and a while so, it's all good..lol Ya I can't believe it is like a little over two weeks I am sooooo excited I just can't wait!!!! Yeah my bff is going to go to Epcot with us and her dd14 also so, I changed my reservation for Teppan Edo for 4 people at 4:30 because we all like Teppan Yaki food yumm!!!

 

[Cin]

I hope you are having a wonderful trip and had a great Thanksgiving! I can't wait to read your trip reviews when you get back. How are the crowds? Is it manageable? Would you do it again the same time of year or would you go a slower less crowded time? How was the dining? Lots of questions... hope you are having fun!

 

[GenGen22]

I hope you are having a wonderful trip and had a great Thanksgiving! I can't wait to read your trip reviews when you get back. How are the crowds? Is it manageable? Would you do it again the same time of year or would you go a slower less crowded time? How was the dining? Lots of questions... hope you are having fun!

I leave on Saturday.... I can't wait!!!!! Yes, I will definately post a full report on the restaurants, shows, hotel, parks and my entire experience once I get back. Thanks and I hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving as well.

 

[disneegrl4eva]

I leave on Saturday.... I can't wait!!!!! Yes, I will definately post a full report on the restaurants, shows, hotel, parks and my entire experience once I get back. Thanks and I hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving as well.

Hey GenGen...just wrote my final bits down and finished my PTR...tomorrow is checkin and then wed. Im off!!!

Cant wait...hope you had a great Thanksgiving and have a wonderful time with your daughter

Looking forward to comparing notes with ya and hearing about the fab shows you saw...have a great trip

 

[GenGen22]

Things couldn't be going better. I leave in 4 days and have my tree up, my decorations done and most of the presents wrapped and to top it off I found a job!!!! I start tomorrow and then off to WDW on Saturday. Things couldn't be better

 

[Cin]

Congrats on the new job!

Yay for organization and having your Christmas almost ready. I am getting out today to buy cards and sit down this afternoon and address them all and try to write a little something special and personal for each recipient. I get tired about card 18 or so.... and then the messages start to get generic.

4 days til your trip... are you packed already? So exciting!

 

[Cin]

Happy Holidays! I do hope you had a wonderful trip. How was it? I am still... waiting for my trip date to arrive.

 

[GenGen22]

Happy Holidays! I do hope you had a wonderful trip. How was it? I am still... waiting for my trip date to arrive.

Sorry I haven't posted my trip report since I've been back I have just been extremely busy since I have come back... With last minute Christmas shopping, baking, cleaning my house, grocery shopping for a house that had no food when I returned from my trip, looking for a job and interviewing and then starting another job and oh yeah also Christmas... UGH.... I was terminated from the job that hired me while I was at DW which was really depressing and put a damper on my trip as I had to cut back on spending money It's just been crazy around here. I'll try to post it this weekend.