My 1st Pre Trip Reprt. Genna And Allan Go Pop!

[Genna]

Ok here goes I am an unorganised last minute girl by nature and here I am taking on the task of disney trip planner (wish me luck)..........

I visited Disney in March of last year at the request of my boyfriend Al, to be honest it was not ever a holiday I would have previously considered however after 2 weeks at Coronado Springs and a meeting with Minnie Mouse I have found myself hooked on everything disney.

I am new to the dis boards as our previous trip was planned by Al however we are visiting again in 2009 and I am set to give the planning a go this time and have decided to go the whole way with a trip report as I have enjoyed other peoples posts so much i have decided planning is all part of the fun!

first of all the cast

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My name is genna I am 27 years old, my boyfired is Allan he is 26 we are both from the Glasgow area in Scotland.

The Time

6th to 20th Feb 2009

The Place

Pop resort

Myself and Allan love to eat out, Allan loves his steaks and I love seafood, we visited a few great restaurants last year and we are hoping to include a few more this trip.

Schedule so far........
6th Feb 2009 Fly to Olrlando

Reservations (and of course we will be reviewing on our return)

06th Feb - Whispering Cannon 9pm
07th Feb - Boma breakfast 07:35am
- California Grill 7:15pm
08th Feb - Le Cellier 6:30pm
09th Feb- ?
10th Feb-Chef Mickeys breakfast 07:30am
11th Feb -O'hana 08:30pm
12th Feb - Coral Reef 5:40pm
13th Feb - Crystal Palce breakfast 08:05am
14th Feb - Narcooses 8:30pm
15th Feb - Le Cellier lunch 11:45 am
- Chef de France 6:30pm
16th Feb - ?
17th Feb?
18th Feb - Yachtsman 8:40pm
19th Feb - Boma breakfast 07:35am
- Narcooses 7:25pm

20th Feb fly home to glasgow

 

[Genna]

Tried our hand at buying Vacation points as I am desperate to stay at the Animal Kingdom Concierge (to enable me to go on the safari).

Turns out it seems easy enough to buy vacation members spare points not so easy to secure a reservation at Animal Kingdom concierge.

better luck next time

 

[Genna]

Some memories from last year

At Grand Floridian after our meal at Narcooses which is Allans favourite restaurant hence we are going twice this trip

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Making friends at Epcot

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Everest - my favourit ride

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Poncho chic at the Pirates and Princess party (fingers crossed there is no rain in Feb)

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Segway fun at epcot (plus you get into the park before rope drop if you book the 1st tour so you get great photos)

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[Genna]

So I have been reading the boards night and day picking up all the handy tips from the experts. I am trying to get ideas for new things to do at disney as well as incorporater all my favourite things from last year.

The list so far

Wake up Tinkerbell at the Tinkerbell shop in Magic Kingdom I hear if you are 1st to ask in the morning you can wake her up ( i know I am 27 years old but this sounds fun)

The wagon ride at Wilderness Lodge in the evenings

Ride up front with the driver on the mono rail we did this last year it was great
this is us in the front cabin last year we even got a credit card size pilot licence to remeber our experience by

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Fantasmic (wondering about the Fantasmic dinner although have read mixed reviews about the allocated seating for the show)


Mini golf (we got a voucher for a free round golf when we booked direct from disney)

Goofy's candy shop yum yum yum


to be cont......... but first we need a plan.......................

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[amackay]

Allan here, Genna's other half. As Gen has already said I am leaving all the planning to her this time.

She loves hearing all the good tips and tricks, so if you have any - feel free to let her know !

I hope you like this pre-trip report and look forward to our full trip report when we return (I have been demoted to only taking photographs this time, no planning allowed for me )

 

[Genna]

Ok so now we have all our reservations we wanted it's time for a day to day plan of action......

Day 1 Friday 6th Feb - Glasgow to London Gatwick then London Gatwick to Orlando Int. The fun starts here, pick up our rental car (we are still undecided on what exactly this will be Allan is driving so he is choosing) and drive to Pop. Its our first time at Pop so we will have a freshen up in our room and have a look around before kicking off our disney adventure at Whispering Canyon @ 9pm.

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Joining in the fun at Whispering Canyon last year. Then early to bed (im usually asleep in the car home).

Day 2 Saturday 7th Feb - Early start Boma breakfast @ 7:35am then straight to Magic Kingdom hopefully in time to wake up Tink. Planning to do as many rides as possible in the morning before lunch at Cosmic with our counter service credit. Than back to it making sure we do Pirates of the Carribean as im desperate to try shouting "George" to check if the ride really is haunted. Hope to catch the Share a Dream Come True parade at 3pm before heading back to the hotel.
As we dont have a disney dinner reservation for tonight we plan to eat at The Carving Station as we have read good reviews.

Day 3 Sunday 8th Feb - Breakfast at Pop as we hope to be at Epcot for rope drop for a fastpass for Soarin (my favourite at Epcot). Work up an appetite before lunch at sunshine Seasons (Allans favourite counter service meal) Although I will make sure I ride Mission Space before lunch as I was very motion sick last time but I am determined to give it another try. Then around the world making sure we stop for a snow cone and a school bread (to take back to our hotel room for later). As we have dinner booked at Le Cellier @ 6:30pm (allan is still pondering over the famous cheese soup of the mussels). Then Illuminations before bed.

Day 4 Monday 9th Feb - Breakfast early at Shoney's as we are on our way to Busch Gardens today, we have never been to this park before so very excited about Shiekra.
Once again no Disney dinner reservation so we are going to The Melting Pot, we found this place last year and it is amazing especially the chocolate fondue dessert I cant wait for this one.

The Cheese fondue @ Melting Pot

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Day 5 Tues 10th Feb - Chef Mickey's for breakfast @ 7:30am for some Mickey waffles and lots of fun meeting the characters. Than to animal Kingdom for Everest (my favourite Disney ride). I am hoping we see the tree lady Devine and manage to get on the safari ride. Lunch is at the Yak and Yeti, then Jammin Jungle parade before back to Pop before heading out for dinner at Chapparal Steakhouse where Allan (with my encouragement) is going to take part in the steak challange although im not sure he will enjoy the wagon ride I have planned at Wilderness Lodge later in the evening after the challange haha!

Day 6 Wed 11th Feb - Breakfast at Captain Cooks for Tonga toast. Then Hollywood studios where I am determined to find the raining umbrella I have been reading others posts on the Dis describing its location (next to hunchback theatre on New York Street) so im confident we will find it this year. Then back to the Polynesian again today to watch Wishes from the beach before our dinner at O'Hana @ 8.30pm, hopefully we will still have room for a Dole whip before bed.

Day 7 thurs 12th Feb - Another early morning breakfat at Pop before heading to Seaworld for the morning Shamu show and a ride on Kraken then onwards to Epcot for our second time on this trip. We plan to do all the rides we didnt have time to fit in on Day 3. And maybe just maybe convince Allan to wait in the Epcot character meet and greet. Also try some "delicious" Beverly refreshment at club cool before Turtle Talk and our dinner at Coral Reef @ 5:40pm.
Back to pop for a slash around in the hotel pool.

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Allan enjoying Beverly last year

Day 8 fri 13th Feb - Breakfast at Crystal Palace 8:05pm before our Keys to the Kingdom tour at 9:30am. Not much else planned for the day as i think the tour takes several hours with a break for lunch.
Texas De Brazil for dinner on International drive again one of the recommended non Dinsney restaurants I have read about in the guide books which I ahve become addicted to over the past few months.

Day 9 Sat 14th Feb - we plan to schedule a DVC viewing in the morning as we hope to purchase some DVC points on this trip (fingers crossed). Then a shopping day at Florida Mall unless Allan has a romantic suprise up his sleeve i dont know about.
Then over to the Grand Floridian for Wishes and dinner at our favourite restaurant Narcooses @ 8:30pm.

Day 10 sun 15th Feb - Another Epcot day no plans made for breakfast as we are eating at 11:45 am in LeCellier for lunch, spend the day in Epcot we plan to do some of the rides we have never done before like The Circle of Life and Journey into Imagination and take things easy. Then we have dinner at Chef de Fance at 6:30pm.
We are then going to Fantasia Gardens to work off our dinner playing our complementary round of mini golf before Boardwalk and the famous kitchen sink.

Day 11 Mon 16th Feb - Breakfast at Golden Corral then Islands of Adventure for thrill packed day of rides Islands of Adventure is my favourite non disney park and I plan to ride the Hulk as many times as possible, myself and Allan have also agreed to ride Dr Dooms Fearfall as we were both too scared last year. Margaritaville for dinner followed by a wonder around city walk shopping before heading back to Pop.

Day 12 Tues 17th Feb - Islands of Adventure again in the morning with Mythos for lunch then over to Universal studios for several rides on The Mummy, and Men in Black. No plans for dinner yet just see where the night takes us.

Day 13 Wed 18th feb - Aquatica in the morning then Downtown Disney for lunch at earl of Sandwich and sovenier shopping (usually Disney pins).

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Sovenier shopping (it always seems like an essential everyday item at the time )

And a visit to Goofy's candy shop

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(My Goofy's creation)

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(Allans Goofy's creation)

Then back to Pop for a swim in the hotel pool before swinging by Epcot for Fantasmic at 7pm then leaving Epcot and on to our dinner reservation at Yachtsman @ 8:40pm.

Day 14 Thurs 19th Feb - Breakfat at Boma 7:35 am. As this is our last full day at Disney i havent planned anything for us during the day I hope we can fit into this day anything in our plan we missed out due to time or anything we really enjoyed and want to do again before we leave and as it is our last night we are dining in Narcooses again @ 7:25 pm.

Day 15 Fri 20th Feb - Fly home Orlando to London Gatwick, a stay at the Yotel then London Gatwick to glasgow. The end (until next time).

 

[Genna]

What do you think of our plan so far Allan?

 

[amackay]

I think you are becoming a better planner than I am !!

 

[Genna]

Has anyone ever done the Wagon ride at wilderness if yes what did you think of it?

Also has anyone taken the Fantasmic dinner package I hear the allocated seating isnt always the best, any experiences?

How much luck have people had receving the towel animals from mousekeeping? We left Mousekeeping everyday last year but didnt have much luck with it. I have downloaded the Mousekeeping character envelopes this time hopefully it may help my quest for a towel animal.

 

[Jennia]

Wow, looks like you two had tons of fun on your last trip and have bunches more planned for this go around!
About the Fantasmic package: I HATE waiting around for a show to start, but this ended up being great for us. My mom and I had the package with Hollywood and Vine and really enjoyed the whole thing. It was nice having seats that were pretty good without having to fight people over them, and being able to leisurely enjoy dinner first without worrying about missing out on a good spot.

 

[Genna]

Thanks.

Yeah I really think the dinner package is a good idea but Allan has read some poor reviews so we were looking to test the water first before we booked anything.

 

[Genna]

3 months and 14 days till our trip

 

[Genna]

Illuminations view room (#3435)

Must remember to request this illuminations room view (a tip from the Pop resort thread)

 

[Genna]

Tinker Bell, Introduces Guests to Her New Fairy Friends

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Disney’s Favorite Pixie, Tinker Bell, Introduces Magic Kingdom Guests to Her New Fairy Friends

To celebrate the animated film “Tinker Bell,” Disney’s most famous fairy and four of her best friends are featured in a meet-and-greet experience in Mickey’s Toontown Fair at Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort.

To meet Tinker Bell and her fairy friends, guests enter a magical forest called “Pixie Hollow,” a special place deep in the heart of Never Land.

 

[Genna]

Bad news I hear Typoon Lagoon will be closed while we are there

 

[Genna]

So where do I go from here?
Should we have an idea what we are going to eat at each restaurant or just go with the flow?