My first attempt at a pre trip report for our first Disney World trip

[annegirl]

*UPDATE*
I called back to book the 40% discount and found out two things. 1) the math was done really wrong and she hadn't taken off a full 40%. 2) It was not good for December.
So, luckily my mom had recieved a pin for 20% off and I asked her to price it out for me at that price and it was only $100 more than the price I was quoted for the 40%!
After making sure that if the 40% discount extends to December or I happen to get a free dining or something that would make it a better deal that I could call and change it... I BOOKED IT!!!!
WE'RE GOING TO DISNEY WORLD!!!!

 

[cmp1111]

WE'RE GOING TO DISNEY WORLD!!!!

WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[annegirl]

I made a travel diary for myself, my mom, and Abi. I thought about printing out the really cute ones I've seen on here with info to fill out but thought doing it this way would be easier so everyone can journal their days their own way.
The Cinderella one will be for my mom. The pink purse is for Abi. I will use the Mickey black and red one.

 

[annegirl]

I made the Life is Good shirt for my mom because she loves life is good so much.
The other two are obviously for our two sweeties.
I got all three designs off of the dis but unfortunately I forgot to write down who they were from. Sorry!! If you know please make a comment so they can get credit for them!

 

[annegirl]

Last night we had our Dumbo party. We watched Dumbo of course.. it was Abi's first time seeing it and she really loved it...especially the bubble part (before it gets all weird and random). We went with the circus theme and had hot dogs, fries, cracker jacks, and cotton candy.
When it was over we played pin the Timothy on Dumbo's hat. The night was a great success. So much fun!!

 

[DevonsDisneyMom]

Hi there! I'm chimming in! We will be in Disney Dec 3-11 staying at POP!!! So what are your travel dates and where are you staying now that you are officially booked??? Woo Hoo!!!

 

[annegirl]

We are staying at Pop too!! We'll be there December 5th-15th.

 

[Peter Pan Fan 22]

Great job on the autograph book!!

I'm looking forward to reading more about your planning. How exciting it must be to be going for the first time!

 

[DenishaT]

Hi!! Ran across your pre-trip report and wanted to say Congratulations!!! The first trip I planned was for last Sept. and i literally planned and planned and planned for 6 months in advance (and I am so thankful for the DisBoards Community! ) We will be staying at POP Dec. 5 - 12!! We stayed at POFQ and AKL in Sept. and found that we really didn't spend that much time in the room.

I adore your autograph book! It is definitely fit for a princess! Can't wait to count down with you!!!

 

[annegirl]

We have continued to do our Disney movie night every weekend but I have been so bad at putting up pictures! I'll stick them on soon.
My mom was in town visiting which gave us the opportunity to decide on all our ADR's so I can book them in a little over a month from now!

 

[annegirl]

We have been consistently doing our movie nights but I haven't got around to posting them so I will probably add links to our blog for that rather than upload them all to here.

But my exciting news is that last week we finally came to our 180 days out and I was able to call and make our ADR's. I am so glad we are staying on site so I could do ten days at once.
I have read so much about how hard it is to get into CRT so I was really paranoid about it but I just basically started calling about 4 minutes before opening and hit redial until someone answered. I then said, "I need to make my ten days worth of reservations but can I start with the 8th day?" So I got it no problem.
I am so excited. We got every reservation we wanted!

So, basically our schedule looks like this:

Day one: Epcot World showcase- breakfast at Norway Akurshus with the princesses.. this should get Abi excited! Dinner at San Angel Inn.

Day two: Magic Kingdom- breakfast at Crystal Palace with the hundred acre woods crew

Day three: MK- dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern. My mom is really excited about this one. We all love the movie Johnny Tremain and I grew up watching it and studying history.

Day four: Animal Kingdom- Dinner at the Wilderness Lodge in the Whispering Canyon Cafe

Day five: MK but no ADR's

Day six: Hollywood Studios- Dinner at Sci Fi. I know I've heard it's not the greatest but everyone wanted to go there for the atmosphere so hopefully we'll all like it.

Day seven: Back to Epcot for Future World and dinner at the Coral Reef

Day eight: ABI's FIFTH BIRTHDAY! First off I have an early reservation at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique in the castle, then we will be having breakfast at CRT. That night we will have dinner at 1900 Park Fare at the Grand Floridian with Cinderella.

So, that's it for the reservations. I cannot wait. It is so hard to keep this a secret from Abi... but it will be so worth it. We took a trip to Utah where our family is from the other day and kept it a secret as well. As we left the house and she asked where we were going she kept saying, "Really? Really, Really?" She was so happy... so I imagine Disney world will be so much more than that!

 

[annegirl]

Okay, here are the links to the posts about our movie nights....

Princess and the Frog

Robin Hood

Swiss Family Robinson

Finding Nemo

Beauty and the Beast

Meet the Robinsons

Toy Story

Atlantis

Enchanted

The Great Mouse Detective

The Rescuers

I still have to post about Treasure Planet and we are doing Sword in the Stone tonight!

 

[annegirl]

I'm still working out transportation for our trip. Should we fly? Should we drive?
With flying, I worry about the weather cancelling a flight or something like that and I don't really want to get insurance if I can help it. Also, I worry about shipping things there or back...
But then with driving it makes the trip so much longer AND our huge stroller takes up almost the whole trunk so we really wouldn't have that much room anyway...
Can you take double strollers on a plane? We've checked a stroller at the gate before but it has always been an umbrella stroller.

 

[Overexcited]

Enjoying your report. If they do extend the dining plan and you go for it you can upgrade it for $10 per person per day, still a good deal. Sounds like you are on a roll. We loved Coral Reef!! Great choice.

Your husband may become an enthusiast after he sees your DD! Great age to go, that is when we went with my DS the first time.
I am going in September and now have an infant as well, he will be 16months when we go. We are staying 10days as well, we booked it for that long so we could have nap time for the baby if needed and not feel rushed.

 

[annegirl]

I have a question.. if anyone out there happens to read this and knows the answer.

We have an ADR for Liberty Tree Tavern at 6:30 pm on a night that the Very Merry Christmas Party is going to be happening. We do not have tickets to that but I doubt we would be done eating and out of the park by seven.

If you have ADR's during the party do you get to stay in? Does anyone know the protocol on this?

 

[Overexcited]

I have a question.. if anyone out there happens to read this and knows the answer.

We have an ADR for Liberty Tree Tavern at 6:30 pm on a night that the Very Merry Christmas Party is going to be happening. We do not have tickets to that but I doubt we would be done eating and out of the park by seven.

If you have ADR's during the party do you get to stay in? Does anyone know the protocol on this?

I believe you have to leave if it is a separate ticketed event. When we made ADR for there on a Halloween party night they asked us if we had tix. They won't give you an ADR if it is past party time and you do not have tickets. To be sure I would calling the dining # and tell them your time.
They give wrist bands to those going to the party and CM usher everyone out that is not supposed to be there, and they make announcements.
You may be able to enjoy dinner and then peak at the party on your way out.

 

[Disneychix]

I have a question.. if anyone out there happens to read this and knows the answer.

We have an ADR for Liberty Tree Tavern at 6:30 pm on a night that the Very Merry Christmas Party is going to be happening. We do not have tickets to that but I doubt we would be done eating and out of the park by seven.

If you have ADR's during the party do you get to stay in? Does anyone know the protocol on this?

I believe the party starts at 7pm so your ADR for 6:30 will be ok BUT they will make you leave the MK right after you eat. There will be CMs everywhere asking to see your wristband for the party. Honestly, if I were you I'd see if you could move up the time of your dinner a bit. It will be mobbed on Main St with party-goers who make it difficult to get out.

Also, I'm not sure what time they stop letting regular guests into the MK so you'll want to already be there before your ADR time.

 

[Disneychix]

I've enjoyed reading your PTR! You are very talented with the journals and autograph books!

The movie nights look so fun! Can I come?

 

[annegirl]

Thanks for your input! That was very helpful!

Here's my next planning dilemma. When I first booked I did San Angel Inn because my parents and I love Mexican food ... or so I thought.
When I printed out the menu for my parents to read they said, "We thought it was going to be more like a sit down Taco Bell."
I found this so funny because they actually have a favorite Mexican restaurant they go to that is really good that I think San Angel Inn will be kind of like.. but anyway.. my husband doesn't LOVE mexican food so I thought I might want to change to Le Cellier after reading how much everyone loves it.
Of course there are no reservations available now for Le Cellier.
So, at this point I'm trying to decide whether to keep San Angel Inn or go with something like Chef Mickey's or the Nine Dragons...
Which one is the best food, atmosphere, etc?

 

[Overexcited]

Thanks for your input! That was very helpful!

Here's my next planning dilemma. When I first booked I did San Angel Inn because my parents and I love Mexican food ... or so I thought.
When I printed out the menu for my parents to read they said, "We thought it was going to be more like a sit down Taco Bell."
I found this so funny because they actually have a favorite Mexican restaurant they go to that is really good that I think San Angel Inn will be kind of like.. but anyway.. my husband doesn't LOVE mexican food so I thought I might want to change to Le Cellier after reading how much everyone loves it.
Of course there are no reservations available now for Le Cellier.
So, at this point I'm trying to decide whether to keep San Angel Inn or go with something like Chef Mickey's or the Nine Dragons...
Which one is the best food, atmosphere, etc?

Chef Mickeys is fun with characters but the food is buffet typical, good but typical. Personally it depends on how much you want to shake things up. Call about ADR changes first thing in the AM, if people cancel that is when there will be openings. Someone once told me they update the ADR in the system after midnight. It actually worked for us getting into LeCelliar.