My first attempt at a pre-trip report...

[NOLAdisneymom]

OMG! How will you be able to have a full day in the parks on no sleep!! I would be wiped out by noon.

I have never seen a bus from park to park, we've always had to go to a resort then to a park or to the ticket and transportation center from MK.

LOL! Dependent on when the room is ready.. a nap is scheduled somewhere in there! And, DH plans on driving most of the way, so the rest of us will get SOME sleep... If he can catch a nap for 2 or 3 hours after we get there, he'll be good the rest of the day! (so he says! )

 

[NOLAdisneymom]

Anglea,
here is a great link I had found before our last trip
loved just reading it to know!
http://www.magicalkingdoms.com/wdw/planning/wdwtransport.html

Thanks! Going to check it out now!

 

[jenseib]

Here is a good travel calculater too.

http://www.ourlaughingplace.com/asp/twiz.aspx

It tends to sometimes take you out of the way for some places, but gives you an idea how to get from one spot to another. Also the estimated times are longer than it takes, but then you also have to remember that the buses are not always siting there and waiting either, so that adds time.

And yes, it confirmed that if you got the TTC, you can catch a bus directly to AK.

 

[NOLAdisneymom]

Here is a good travel calculater too.

http://www.ourlaughingplace.com/asp/twiz.aspx

It tends to sometimes take you out of the way for some places, but gives you an idea how to get from one spot to another. Also the estimated times are longer than it takes, but then you also have to remember that the buses are not always siting there and waiting either, so that adds time.

And yes, it confirmed that if you got the TTC, you can catch a bus directly to AK.

Oooh, nice! That's a website I've not been to before!

 

[NOLAdisneymom]

First of all, we were discussing the Chef Mickey's ressie for arrival day. If we cancel that one, and do another bfast buffet later in the week, that gives us alot more flexibility on arrival morning for napping, exploring, unpacking, etc. So last night I made a backup ressie at Whispering Canyon Cafe for Wednesday morning, at 9:05. I'm kind of excited to go here, actually.

Ok, on with the plans!

We want to make this a dedicated MAGIC KINGDOM day. Last time we went during this time period, crowds were light when we first arrived, Sat, Sun, Mon, and started ramping up Tuesday. So I'd like to get a full day of MK in while the crowds aren't crazy yet.

I intend on being there for rope drop. I have NEVER seen the Welcome Show at MK. , and I WILL SEE IT THIS TRIP!

My must do list:
All three mountains - Space, Splash, Big Thunder
Haunted Mansion
Pirates of the Caribbean (this might be my fave in MK) - the boys are HUGE POTC fans!
The guys are resisting against Its a Small World - but I am going to INSIST, bc it's Jacobs first time, and how does he KNOW he won't love it? Just bc his dad says so? I don't THINK so.
Mickey's Philharmagic

Things I don't want to do:
Teacups
Dumbo
Country Bear Jamboree

That evening we have ressies at Ohana at 8:25. I'm hoping to be done with dinner and back to MK for Wishes (I've also never seen this). I did read that you can see Wishes from the Poly.. Has anyone done this and is it a good viewing spot?

MK has EMH that night, so we plan on closing the park down!

Happy Friday, Y'all!

 

[longing2Batdisney]

What a great plan for the first day! why oh why are you skipping Dumbo... (I have never ridden Dumbo --the line is always waaaayyyy tooooo long and in the sun)...now, the Tea Cups we all love to ride that one, just not right after we eat.

Yes, Poly does have firework viewing from the beach and you are able to see the water parade when you view it from there. I had planned to catch it there last visit but we never made it over. Several dissers I have followed for the last two years have done it and all recommend it!

Connie

 

[20thingamabobs]

Great plans for your Magic Kingdom day! Are you going to do Jungle Cruise? We skipped this one for a couple years then about a year ago we decided to ride it one time at night! It was hilarious at night! But, we also had a really good driver which I think makes a difference.

I think you're really going to like 'Ohana, I love those little dumpling things! And the Sweet Tea Ka drink is amazing!

We stayed at the Poly last April and got to watch the fireworks from the beach several times. While I highly suggest doing this, I do have a disclaimer. Since you have never seen Wishes before I would definitely watch it inside the Park. It's cool from the Poly beach but you miss some of the lower fireworks and all the things they project on the castle (Magic mirror face, fish, etc.) so for a first timer I would say definitely watch from inside MK!

 

[jenseib]

Going to EMH you will likely be able to ride Dumbo later in the evening with not much of a wait, if you want to give it a try.
If the boys don't ride small world you can always split up and you girls can do it. My DH and I tend to split up here and there (one of us takes Claire with us) and it works really well for us. One can do somehting that the other doesn't want to ride, while the other can do characters or other rides that Claire insist on doing over again.

 

[NOLAdisneymom]

What a great plan for the first day! why oh why are you skipping Dumbo... (I have never ridden Dumbo --the line is always waaaayyyy tooooo long and in the sun)...now, the Tea Cups we all love to ride that one, just not right after we eat.

Yes, Poly does have firework viewing from the beach and you are able to see the water parade when you view it from there. I had planned to catch it there last visit but we never made it over. Several dissers I have followed for the last two years have done it and all recommend it!

Connie

Welllllllll.... I hear that Dumbo, besides the long line, is a VERY short ride, and there are so many other things to do! We only have 5.5 days! In real life time, 5 days seems sooooo long, but in Disney time.. It's terribly short!

We will def try to see the fireworks from Poly then! I've never even heard of the water parade... ?

Great plans for your Magic Kingdom day! Are you going to do Jungle Cruise? We skipped this one for a couple years then about a year ago we decided to ride it one time at night! It was hilarious at night! But, we also had a really good driver which I think makes a difference.

I think you're really going to like 'Ohana, I love those little dumpling things! And the Sweet Tea Ka drink is amazing!

We stayed at the Poly last April and got to watch the fireworks from the beach several times. While I highly suggest doing this, I do have a disclaimer. Since you have never seen Wishes before I would definitely watch it inside the Park. It's cool from the Poly beach but you miss some of the lower fireworks and all the things they project on the castle (Magic mirror face, fish, etc.) so for a first timer I would say definitely watch from inside MK!

I'm def looking forward to 'Ohana.. Even tho the mixed reviews, I can't wait! Yes, Jungle Cruise is on my list.. I'm supposed to be working laughing, so I missed that one! I don't think I've ever done it at night, that should be interesting! I plan to go to MK more than one night, so maybe after Saturday's dinner at AK, if we are still awake, we can run back to MK to see it from INSIDE the park, and then the next night from the Poly!

PS - Did ya'll see me multi-quote!? I'm learning!

 

[brookelizabeth]

Is Wishes at 10:00 pm that night? You *might* not make it back to MK to find a decent spot with an 8:30 ADR at 'Ohana. Almost always there is a wait for 'Ohana with the buzzer...and usually not very short either. However, Wishes from the beach is very nice! I've only seen Holiday Wishes and the NYE fireworks from it, but it's beautiful. You get a very different perspective and can see just how HUGE the fireworks are.

 

[NOLAdisneymom]

Is Wishes at 10:00 pm that night? You *might* not make it back to MK to find a decent spot with an 8:30 ADR at 'Ohana. Almost always there is a wait for 'Ohana with the buzzer...and usually not very short either. However, Wishes from the beach is very nice! I've only seen Holiday Wishes and the NYE fireworks from it, but it's beautiful. You get a very different perspective and can see just how HUGE the fireworks are.

Okay.. so we'll try to get back to MK after our 5pm rainforest dinner, to watch it up close.. then Sunday after Ohana, we'll catch it from the beach? Oh the joy of planning!

 

[NOLAdisneymom]

I'm planning to make today EPCOT day!

I'd like to be there at opening (we'll see) and spend the whole day there.

My must do's for Epcot:

Spaceship Earth ( I LOVE this ride! )
Living with the Land
The Nemo ride - I've never been..
Soarin' ( I can't wait for Jacob to go on this!)
Test track
and my personal fave... I ADORE World Showcase. I don't fly, so this is as close to visiting foreign countries as I'll probably ever get!

We have ressies at Coral Reef at 11:35. I've heard that the food is less than spectacular, however, I love fish and aquariums, so we booked it. Deshea in particular is excited about this one.

Mid-afternoon, I'd like to go back to CB for a nap and/or a swim, then back to Epcot to see Illuminations that night, because I've never seen this EITHER!

Has anyone been to Coral Reef, that can give me menu suggestions? Items to avoid?

Also, I really want to do a KimPossible mission, even tho we are going to all be 17 and older. Is this silly for a grown woman of 33?

Happy Monday, Y'all!

 

[longing2Batdisney]

What a beautiful day it is here!?!
sounds like a great day! you are not going to do Mission Space?!? I did the orange version this last trip and really enjoyed it...so, I'm sure anyone can do the green version if a little uneasy about it.
we have not eaten at Coral Reef but I have heard mention the blackened fish and steaks are very good.
and, no I don't think it is silly you want to do KimPossible I bet you and Desha will have a blast
Have a beautiful fall week...Connie

 

[NOLAdisneymom]

What a beautiful day it is here!?!
sounds like a great day! you are not going to do Mission Space?!? I did the orange version this last trip and really enjoyed it...so, I'm sure anyone can do the green version if a little uneasy about it.
we have not eaten at Coral Reef but I have heard mention the blackened fish and steaks are very good.
and, no I don't think it is silly you want to do KimPossible I bet you and Desha will have a blast
Have a beautiful fall week...Connie

It IS simply beautiful today! My little doggies LOVED it outside this morning!

Ahhh.. Mission Space.. I have a bit of nervous stomach, so I don't know if that's the best idea? Maybe the green side tho.. We'll see how I feel that day, if I'm adventurous or being a weenie.

I LOVE STEAK.. not so much fish.. so it's good to know that they have a good steak!

Have a great week! It's supposed to last thru the weekend, according to WWL! We got "pixie dusted" with our weather this week for sure!

 

[longing2Batdisney]

I'll share a quick story about Mission Space..
when it opened we were in the works of planning a trip (that we ended up not taking) and I could not wait to ride it!!!! I was so excited now, you must know I love to ride just about anything EXCEPT rollercoasters, especially if it goes upside down. or anything with a sudden plunge , you know I have still not ridden Splash Mountain--I want to but just cannot get up the nerve. I'm not afraid of heights just can't handle the adrenaline rush (makes me so nervous--you should have seen me white water raft, I looked like I was having a seizure).

Last May (2009) everyone rode and I stayed with Ashton; I was going to ride with Danny when they came off. Well, Ashton needed to use the potty as they were coming off so I took advantage of the excuse. this April when we went they told me to ride first and they would stay with Ashton (I was stuck--I was excited and sooooo nervous). Danny told me let's ride the green (NO MOTION only the movie screen) good deal to me...

we get in line, he is in front of me and he tells them two for ORANGE!
I was so upset!!!
I kept telling him if I did not die of a heartattack I was going to kill him when I got off! There was a lady and her husband that were going to be riding with us and she told me, she would be sure to make him take my dead body from the ride and kill him for me when we were off ...needless to say he did not think it was too funny,...

Well, as the ride takes off, I told Danny I could not believe he did this to me and I was not happy (I must have sounded like I was going to cry) he put his hand on my knee told me to close my eyes and he would tell me when it was over...

once, he touched my knee I was OK and ended up LOVING! the ride...

when I got off the kids were waiting so they could ride and wanted to know what I thought. Dayne told Danny to keep Ashton and he wanted to ride Orange with me (they were still thinking I had rode Green)...I looked at him and said I just rode ORANGE! HE DID NOT believe me. than looks at me and says good now you can ride all the rollercoasters with us and the Hulk
didn't happen!

I can't wait to ride it again!
but, I'm thinking my next ride will be with Ashton so it will be green (at least for a while---I don't want to scare him until I know he can handle the pressure)...so, if you are OK in close spaces (very tight area and close screen) you should TRY to at least try out the green...but I do understand if you don't think you can took me two years to try it

 

[NOLAdisneymom]

I'll share a quick story about Mission Space..
when it opened we were in the works of planning a trip (that we ended up not taking) and I could not wait to ride it!!!! I was so excited now, you must know I love to ride just about anything EXCEPT rollercoasters, especially if it goes upside down. or anything with a sudden plunge , you know I have still not ridden Splash Mountain--I want to but just cannot get up the nerve. I'm not afraid of heights just can't handle the adrenaline rush (makes me so nervous--you should have seen me white water raft, I looked like I was having a seizure).

Last May (2009) everyone rode and I stayed with Ashton; I was going to ride with Danny when they came off. Well, Ashton needed to use the potty as they were coming off so I took advantage of the excuse. this April when we went they told me to ride first and they would stay with Ashton (I was stuck--I was excited and sooooo nervous). Danny told me let's ride the green (NO MOTION only the movie screen) good deal to me...

we get in line, he is in front of me and he tells them two for ORANGE!
I was so upset!!!
I kept telling him if I did not die of a heartattack I was going to kill him when I got off! There was a lady and her husband that were going to be riding with us and she told me, she would be sure to make him take my dead body from the ride and kill him for me when we were off ...needless to say he did not think it was too funny,...

Well, as the ride takes off, I told Danny I could not believe he did this to me and I was not happy (I must have sounded like I was going to cry) he put his hand on my knee told me to close my eyes and he would tell me when it was over...

once, he touched my knee I was OK and ended up LOVING! the ride...

when I got off the kids were waiting so they could ride and wanted to know what I thought. Dayne told Danny to keep Ashton and he wanted to ride Orange with me (they were still thinking I had rode Green)...I looked at him and said I just rode ORANGE! HE DID NOT believe me. than looks at me and says good now you can ride all the rollercoasters with us and the Hulk
didn't happen!

I can't wait to ride it again!
but, I'm thinking my next ride will be with Ashton so it will be green (at least for a while---I don't want to scare him until I know he can handle the pressure)...so, if you are OK in close spaces (very tight area and close screen) you should TRY to at least try out the green...but I do understand if you don't think you can took me two years to try it

That's so funny about the lady in line with you!

I LOVE splash! It's on my top five.. but between you and me, I close my eyes for the big drop!

Close spaces?? Not going to happen. I can't even stand elevators. LOL.

Last trip, me and Chris went alone, and I had never ridden Expedition Everest or Tower of Terror, and DID NOT plan on it either. However, I got the GUILT TRIP from hubs, bc he had no one to ride with, yadda yadda, so I went. I did NOT love ToT, but actually really enjoyed EE. I drew the line at Rockin Rollercoaster. I DO NOT GO UPSIDE DOWN! LOL.... I won't be doing ToT, or RnC this trip either. And now he has the kids to go with him on those two rides, and I'll do what I do best. SHOP!

 

[jenseib]

I haven't tried Mission space either. I'm always worried I'll get sick. My mom told me she rode i, so I think I can handle it if she did, because she is usually worse than me. Don't be afraid of going upside down. Hnestly, you don't even know when you are. I used to say that too, till I finally rode one in my 20's and I was like "wow, you're right, you have no clue that you went upside down". No the take off for RNR is really fast. To me that was the worse part.

 

[NOLAdisneymom]

I haven't tried Mission space either. I'm always worried I'll get sick. My mom told me she rode i, so I think I can handle it if she did, because she is usually worse than me. Don't be afraid of going upside down. Hnestly, you don't even know when you are. I used to say that too, till I finally rode one in my 20's and I was like "wow, you're right, you have no clue that you went upside down". No the take off for RNR is really fast. To me that was the worse part.

There's a "chance" I might be brave enough to try RnRC... a small one though! I always imagine falling out!

 

[NOLAdisneymom]

As I sit here typing up these nice, orderly plans.... I wonder if we will really stick to them?

Anywho.. Tuesday will be HS day.

It's not way important to me to be there at rope drop, other than to score FP for ToT, and RnRc for the kids. But with it being Jacob's first trip, I guess maybe we should?? To make sure we get to do everything.....

Today we have lunch ressies at Sci-Fi Dine in.. another one that gets mixed reviews, but I'm looking forward to based on the atmosphere, and I think the kids will really enjoy it. I've never been to an actual drive-in theater, sooo.... I'm kinda excited. Our ressies are at 11:30, which is probably the earliest lunch seating?

On my list of must do's for HS:

For the kids - Tower of Terror, and RnRc.
For all of us -
MUPPETS. I love Muppets. I'm 33, and grew up with the Muppets. THIS is my fav thing in all of HS.
The Great Movie Ride - just because the movie scenes are neat, and its a nice long break from walking.
Backlot Tour - We will make Jacob sit on the left of the tram... he has no idea what will happen!
The auto show thingy, the name escapes me at the moment. Mostly for the guys.

This is a short list... what am I forgetting?
OH! I'd like to find the singing in the rain umbrella, for a photo op, of course!


This is one of two days that Fantasmic is showing while we are there. I'd like to leave early afternoon for a mid-day nap/swim, maybe a counter serv early dinner at CB, then back to HS for Fantasmic.

OUr last trip in 2008, Fantasmic was Chris's absolute favorite thing we did/saw on the entire trip.

Thoughts on this day's plans welcome!

Thanks for reading, guys. It took me months to get the nerve up to post something.

 

[jenseib]

I think DHS is my least favorite park. There are so many things I really don't care for there, but I still like to go for at least part of the day. I AM looking forward to Osborne lights though if we go in Dec. I have yet to do F! though.