My first PTR "Mickey, Shamu, and Paula Deen....Oh My"

[charming23]

Hello all!!!

My name is Elizabeth. I am 24 years old and have not been to Walt Disney World since I was 6. I do not remember a lot of details but hope to remember more after my Mom and I go 9/14 through 9/25.

Now all of those days will not be at Disney. We are staying at the CBR from 9/15 to 9/21. So 6 nights and seven days at the happiest place on Earth.

I should probably tell you how this trip was planned.

First I will tell you that I will be joined by my Mom (Susan) for this trip.

Next this trip is a much needed one for the two of us. My Dad had been very ill for the past two years and sadly passed away not long ago. Before he got sick though we always talked of doing a big family trip the year I turned 25 (2010). He had never been and knew I was itching to go back. We had even started doing research to know where to stay and what would need. Unfortunately we never got to finish.

A few days after his memorial his sister, my Aunt, suggested that if we could afford it my mom and should take a trip sometime this fall to get away and clear our heads. (I had already taken this semester off from school not knowing what was going to happen with my dad last spring). So we decided that we would see if we could afford disney and surprise to us we could.

Originally we had planned to go the week of my mom's birthday in October but decided that if we went during the free dining promotion we could stay at a different resort and stay longer. So we decided on September.

I will explain the title more in later updates.

I do have to say that I have found this board a blessing in helping get things ready in a very short time.


Me DM

 

[charming23]

So.......... I have to confess that I have been going crazy reading as much as I can on this board in order to prepare for the trip and I can not stress enough how helpful everything and everyone has been. With that said I knew that I had to make my ADR's for the trip and I got pretty much everything I wanted even though I made them only 60 days out.

Here they are
9/16 Tony's Town Square Resturant - 7:30pm
9/17 50's Primetime Cafe - 6:35pm
9/18 Kona Cafe - 7:45pm
9/19 Les Chefs de France - 5:30pm
9/20 Liberty Tree Tavern - 2:50 pm
9/21 1900 Park Fare - 10:55am

I think I did pretty well. The only thing I changed was we decided on not going to the Captain's Grill for a late lunch Saturday the 19th and chose Les Chefs for dinner instead.


As for our park plans we have the tenative schedule of:

9/15 Arrival day- after much deliberation we have decided to spend the extra money and go to the Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. We will either eat at the CBR food court before we go or grab a quick meal once we are there.

9/16 The plan is to sleep in a little and hit the Magic Kingdom for the afternoon and our ADR at Tony's.

9/17 Our only day planned at DHS. We may take a small break mid afternoon to swim and then head back for dinner.

9/18 This is animal kingdom day. I am soooo excited to go. I love animals and everything about them. SInce AK closes at 5 that day we can head back to the resort freshen up and drive over to the poly for dinner at Kona.

9/19 Is Epcot day. Illuminations is a must see for us.

9/20 This is another magic kingdom day and maybe DHS at night for Fantasmic.

9/21 Our last day at Disney breakfast with Mary Poppins and whatever park we feel we need to go back to before we leave to go to the Sea World Area.

 

[charming23]

Maybe I should have started with the basics.

We are driving from near Cleveland, Ohio and have decided recently to do it in 3 days instead of two.

We leave on Sunday 9/13 and we will travel until we reach Charlotte, NC for our resevation at the Days Inn. (About 10 hours from home with stops)

From Charlotte we will drive about 7 more hours until we reach our Days Inn reservation in St. Augustine, FL

The plan for 9/15 is to play around in St Augustine and arrive at WDW sometime after lunch, check-in at the Caribbean Beach Resort, hope our room is ready and hen head out to MNSSHP for the night.

When we check out of the CBR we will then be headed to a hotel near the Sea World Property for three nights, visiting Sea World on the 22nd and 23rd.

We leave SW on the 24 and we will drive to our hotel reservation in Savannah, GA. Where the next morning we hope to be able to try The Lady and Sons (Paula Deen's resturant) for lunch and then leave for our last over night stay in Mooresville, NC before heading back home.

So as you can tell by the title of my trip I plan on seeing all three of these wonderful "characters" beofre our trip is done.

 

[SilverL]

Mmm... Paula Deen's restaurant!

Hello and welcome to the Dis Boards! My DH and I will be honeymooning in the world at the same time as you guys are there---we arrive on the same day. Actually, we're visiting Epcot on the 19th and have ressies for Chefs de France at 6:00pm that night! Maybe we'll run into each other!

I also want to say that I'm very sorry for your loss. I bet your dad would be very happy that you and your mom are able to take this trip. If I can help you with any planning, please let me know. This will be my 4th trip to WDW and I have been a Dis member since I was a teenager. I am the planning Queen. Ask me about my 30 page word document.

 

[trickiwoo]

Sounds like you have a very fun trip planned!!! I've never been to Florida before, so I would love to be able to stay longer to check out some of the other attractions like Sea World!

We're leaving on 9/13 too!

 

[charming23]

Mmm... Paula Deen's restaurant!

Hello and welcome to the Dis Boards! My DH and I will be honeymooning in the world at the same time as you guys are there---we arrive on the same day. Actually, we're visiting Epcot on the 19th and have ressies for Chefs de France at 6:00pm that night! Maybe we'll run into each other!

I also want to say that I'm very sorry for your loss. I bet your dad would be very happy that you and your mom are able to take this trip. If I can help you with any planning, please let me know. This will be my 4th trip to WDW and I have been a Dis member since I was a teenager. I am the planning Queen. Ask me about my 30 page word document.

Thanks so much. That is so cool that you will be at Chefs de france the same night.

at the 30 page document comment. I have many many notebooks already filled with info and my passporter never leaves my side lately.

 

[charming23]

Sounds like you have a very fun trip planned!!! I've never been to Florida before, so I would love to be able to stay longer to check out some of the other attractions like Sea World!

We're leaving on 9/13 too!

Hi! So glad to hear from people who will be there at the same time. I am so excited to go.

One of the reasons we decided to drive instead of fly was so that we could have more time in Orlando. I love Sea World and although I have never been to the one in Florida I spent many childhood summers at the one in Ihio before it closed.

 

[charming23]

Sooooo in 4 shot weeks Mom and I will pack all of our belongings (not really but doesn't it feel like you always pack everything but the kitchen sink) in our beloved Kermit (a green Ford Escape) and start making our way towards the happiest place on Earth.

I am excited beyond belief. Yesterday we recied our travel documents in the mail and I nearly did cartwheels in the driveway upon seeing them.

Next mom and I got our package from disneyshopping. We ordered a bunch of stuff on sale.

I got

Then I made my mom and I loot bags. Here is mine. She already got hers because we had a 30days until disney celebration tonight

Then she got me these

Then here is me wearing my costume for MNSSHP

 

[charming23]

Gosh that pic of me is so scary looking. I took it myself with my new digital camera.

Other than bouncing off the walls lately I have been listening to a ton of Disney music, watching disney movies, and reading everything I can about the parks.

I also finally finished making all of our non-Disney reservations and the only thing left to do is pre-order our Sea World Tickets and we will be all set.

I would start packing now except for the fact that over Labor weekend we will be going to my Family's cabin on Kelley's Island and I sort of need my suitcase for then.

 

[charming23]

I have a confession to make. Tonight in the span of three hours I have totally changed almost all our ADR's and park day plans. My mom and I decided we wanted to do things at a slower pace so here are our new ADR's

9/15 Planet Hollywood at 3pm to use our voucher then off to MNSSHP
9/16 Dinner at 1900 Park Fare with Cinderella at 4:55pm
9/17 Late Lunch at The Plaza Resturant at 3pm
9/18 Still dinner at Kona at 7:45
9/19 Still Les Chefs at 5:30
9/20 Lunch at 50's Primetime Cafe at 2:25
9/21 Still 1900 Park Fare Breakfast

whew I am exhausted I cancelled all of my other ones that I am not using.

 

[trickiwoo]

I think your MNSSHP costume is super cute!!!

Taking things at a slower pace is probably a good idea! Your new ADRs look pretty good!

 

[SilverL]

I think I may just wear ears for MNSSHP. I don't know what else to do that wouldn't be hot and unbearable!

 

[charming23]

I think your MNSSHP costume is super cute!!!

Taking things at a slower pace is probably a good idea! Your new ADRs look pretty good!

Thanks. I found it at my local Disney store on clearance for so cheap. I plan on wearing a red t-shirt with my jeanshorts to kinda of complete the outfit.

I agree with the slower pace idea. We have a lot more downtime scheduled for just being at the resort or shopping at DTD. We are also not big thrill ride fans so we do not feel the need to be at every rope drop to run to those kind of attractions.

I think I may just wear ears for MNSSHP. I don't know what else to do that wouldn't be hot and unbearable!

I love the idea of ears. So did my Mom she was so happy to see her own pair in her disney trip bag. It was so difficult to think of a costume that 1. would be cool and 2. would not make me look like a complete dork

 

[charming23]

I am interrupting this trip report to do a mini trip report. I went to the American Idol Tour on Sunday night here in Cleveland and let me tell you it was the one of the best concerts I have been to, right below Bon Jovi of course.

I am throughly in love with Adam Lambert and Kris Allen. My Mom said I was screaming so loud and shaking when each one did their set.

I have been obssesing over the concert for weeks and informed my Mom yesterday that now that the concert is over I can officially go OCD on our Trip and she looked at me with horror in her eyes .

Thanks to all who are reading my report. I hope I am keeping you somewhat entertained.

 

[charming23]

Okay so we are two weeks out to our departure date and I feel so behind in my getting readiness lol.

So today I packed my bathroom bag with all the appropriate items like shampoo, conditioner, brush, toothbrush, toothpaste, q-tips, face wash, hair spray, tylenol, tums, allergy meds, vitamins, ponytail holders, clips, bandaids, etc.........

I also started a bag for clothes that I will not be wearing between now and then, since my duffel is packed for my Kelley's Island trip I needed some place else to store theese items for the time being.

I am also scared because we only have 5 days once we return from our family trip to KI to get ready for Disney. I do not want to forget anything.

Also this week I will be working on our agenda's for each day to fidure out our game plan.

 

[trickiwoo]

I hope your Labor Day trip went well!!! And I hope you have enough time this week to get ready for Orlando!!!! Good luck with all of the last minute trip stuff!!!!

 

[Gabes_mommy]

Hi,
I just found your report. I am actually checking in to CBR on 9/15 too and also attending MNSSHP that night.

Can you believe in a week we'll be there? I am so excited.

I am so sorry to hear about your father.

 

[charming23]

I hope your Labor Day trip went well!!! And I hope you have enough time this week to get ready for Orlando!!!! Good luck with all of the last minute trip stuff!!!!

My trip was good, I am really tired but I had fun thanks. I hope everything is going well for you and that you get everything ready for your trip as well.

Hi,
I just found your report. I am actually checking in to CBR on 9/15 too and also attending MNSSHP that night.

Can you believe in a week we'll be there? I am so excited.

I am so sorry to hear about your father.

Thanks so much for joining in. So cool that you will be there at the same time. I am soexcited for the halloween party.

 

[charming23]

So I am back from my weekend trip. It was fun and tiring all at the same time. It was nice to be able to get away and relax without the stress of the real world knocking. We played many games of UNO and I took my cousin out to celebrate her 21st birthday with her first alcoholic drink. I also got a lot of planning for the trip done. With the help of my handy dandy passporter and my relatives my mom and I have a good plan started.

Here are a couple pics form my trip

The view from the ferry boat ride over

The beach in front of our house

More beach

Our house

Geese up near the camp

The boardwalk trail

A view from the boardwalk

 

[charming23]

So t-minus 12 hours and I will be in the car on the way to Walt Disney World

Can you tell I am excited?

There is not much left to do. I need to pick out some cds and dvds for the road. I also have to find my other pair of tennis shoes and my hat and I am all ready to go. We plan on leaving here around 8am and hope to be at our first hotel stop at dinner.

I am sad though cause I had to drop my babies off at my Grandma's for two whole weeks

Here is Cleo

Here is Calypso (yes I named her after a pirates character)

So with an excited heart I bid you all a fond farewell until I return and attempt a trip report.