My First Time---A venture on the TR Board!

[AC7179]

I'm a little bit nervous about beginning a trip report, but I love reading everyone else's, so fair is fair, right? Here goes!

CAST OF CHARACTERS
Dad: Jason. 34 year old computer programmer. Formerly from Michigan, now a resident of the great state of Texas. Spent the six weeks prior to our first Disneyland trip saying, "Lame, lame!" about all things Disney. Spend the six minutes leading open to Disneyland's open the first day saying, "Hurry up! Six more minutes! SIX MORE MINUTES!" After that first trip, a converted Disney fan. Jason's mom lives in FL, about 2 hours away from the World. His grandmother lives on the shores of Lake Huron in Michigan. His sister lives in Detroit. He misses his family very much.



Mom: Amanda. 27 year old English teacher. From Texas, still living in Texas, in the same town as all of her immediate family. Actually, as I type this, my 2 year old nephew is sawing logs on the couch next to me, spending the night. I get to see all of my family as often as I want, which is often. Here is a picture of me kissing Dory at DL.



Colleen: 13. 8th grade student. Smart. Is going to have to miss 3 days of all Pre-AP classes to go on our Disney trip. Scary. We're hoping to get the homework ahead of time. Did I mention if you fall below an 85 in her classes you get kicked out? But no pressure---seriously. Here is a picture of Colleen in Disneyland last spring break.



Victoria: 2. Disney lover. Had a fabulous time at Disneyland last March for Spring Break. Loved the character breakfast at our hotel, Paradise Pier. Loved Small World. Still remembers eating churros as we sat in the boat.
"Mama...........member when we go to Small World and eat donuts in the boat?" Can sing the small world song pretty darn well. Some mornings when I wake her up, she says, "Mama.......I wanna go to Disneyland today." Pretty darn cute for a 28 month old, if I do say so myself. Working on potty-training, and am almost done now. We shall see how she does on our trip in April.



Colleen is actually my step-daughter---not that it makes any difference to me---but it is important to note because she has a sister from her Mom's side, who will be joining us on our trip. Her name is Randi and she will be flying in from Flint, MI. Isn't she pretty?

 

[AC7179]

So, our trip this spring has been on-again and off-again, without us ever making a firm decision.

We hadn't been to WDW or FL for two years, and Jason is missing his mom a lot. If we had our pick of the parks, we would always choose DL. Being in Texas, we are right between the two, and we just enjoy DL better. We don't mind the smaller size, we love to stay at the Paradise Pier Hotel, and we love being able to walk everywhere we want to go while we are there. But, his mom is in FL, his sister enjoys FL more, and of course, we also like WDW!

Jason is right now in the middle of a job change---just gave his two week's notice---and new boss gave him the all clear to go to FL this spring.

The only thing is---he asked about Easter.

Now, our last few times we have gone we have done it Easter week. We feel like our FL trips are more to visit family. We stay onsite at DL, stay an entire week, and just generally relax while we are there. That, to us, has always been our vacation and our FL time is bonus Disney, plus family time. Jason's sister Brandi and my two nieces have met us in FL when we go in the past. They live in Detroit and drive their camper to FL over their Spring Break, which is Easter. We hadn't heard yet if they were going this year, but Jason still wanted to go, regardless, so he could see his mom. If his sister comes, that will be a fantastic bonus! So, he asks about Easter week. I explain to him that if his sister CAN'T come, I would rather go in March, as that is our spring break and we wouldn't have to take off school. Jason says he doesn't think the new boss would go for March since it would be so soon after hiring---so, April it is. Busiest time of the year and all.

So----now we are in the predicament of having waited so long---air tickets are more expensive. Especially for a busy week like Easter. I'm browsing Travelocity when all of a sudden a window pops up saying the price has changed.

Seriously?

SERIOUSLY?!?!?

The price went up while I was looking at it? I went into panic mode. I have to buy these tickets NOW. Okay, looking back on it, I overreacted. Still, I felt the pressure to get those tickets, and get them now! I call Jason at work. He had called his mom and hadn't heard from her or his sister, so he said he wasn't sure of the dates. I explain that I had been a stalker and double checked my nieces' spring break, which was indeed the week after Easter. So, I said.........if they were coming, it would be that week. Also, we couldn't really do any alternate dates, seeing as how we were going to miss school anyway. Jason gives me the go-ahead. I can't think of any possible reason why I shouldn't make those reservations. I start to hit the buy button----OH NO!

TAKS! The standardized test our Texas children are so fortunate to take. Would Colleen or I miss these important dates? Quick check on the calendar. NOPE! Whew........I start to hit he buy button----OH NO!

Dance team tryouts for high school! Colleen was a gymnast for seven years, and now dances. I realize I'm the Mama and am easily impressed, but I am impressed by the way she can move her body.




She is trying out for high school dance team. Would she miss the tryouts? I quickly call the school. Nope---they're not until May. Whew. I hit the buy button! Horray! I did it! What a relief! We will fly out of DFW on Thursday, April 5, at 7:00 p.m., arriving at MCO around 10:00. We will depart MCO around 10 a.m., on Wednesday, April 11.

But then.......I get an email from Jason. Not one to cuss---I am a little alarmed when the email is entitled What the Fudge..........I open it to see-

that Jason's mom doesn't think his sister is going to FL this spring----and she will probably have moved by then!

 

[AC7179]

And one more thing-----I think I forgot to mention flight tickets were nonrefundable?

 

[AC7179]

Okay, so when Jason's mom says she might not even be in Florida, our wind is taken a little out of our sales.

However, since our tickets were nonrefundable and I had just dropped about $1100 on them, we were going anyway!
Jason called his sister Brandi, who said that they didn't have as much fun last year without us, but if we were going they might reconsider this year. We're still waiting on final word for them but hope that they will be able to go.
I decided that since Easter is such a busy week, we needed to get on the hotel reservations as soon as possible, so I turned to my good friend---Priceline.

Three years ago, we stayed at the Mariott Orlando World Center and it was fabulous. We got the hotel off of Priceline and paid about a hundred dollars a night. We love it.

Two years ago, on Randi's first trip, we stayed at the Radisson near Kissimee. We were doing it more budgety--and spend around 55 dollars a night. We did NOT love it, although Randi really did enjoy herself. She doesn't get to vacation much with her family in Michigan, so we really try to spoil her when she is with us.

Anyway, I thought maybe I would bid sixty dollars a night and hope to get the Hilton in DTD that others had gotten recently.

So, I bid 60 dollars. Denied.
65. Denied.
75. Denied.
80? Denied
85. Denied
100. Denied

Oh no! What was I going to do? I imagine sleeping under a bridge somewhere in Orlando. I feel the need to get a hotel room TODAY! Unfortunately, I was out of bids on Priceline! So, I decided to try a 3 star. Sure, we were hoping for a resort, but you can't be too picky, right? I bid a 3 star until I run out of bids and am up to 85 dollars! GEEZ!

Then I realize I was bidding starting on Saturday, but we will need to check in late Saturday nights. I change my dates and try again. I bid 135 for a resort and horray! Accepted! We'll be staying at the Hyatt Grand Cypress from Thursday, April 5 until Wednesday, April 11th.

The resort looks fabulous and I am excited.

Tori was watching Playhouse Disney this morning and started yelling for me, "MAMA! It's JOJO! Come see!"

I went and looked and she was looking at a Disney preview of the new breakfast at Hollywood and Vine in MGM, where you can dine with Annie and Leo from Little Einsteins and Jojo and Goliath from Jojo's Circus. Tori LOVED the character meals at Disneyland, so today I called and made reservations at Chef Mickey's for 10:50 on Friday and at Hollywood and Vine at 11:00. Friday is our MK day---anyone know how long we should give ourselves to go from the MK to Chef Mickey's by monorail?

 

[AC7179]

Nothing really new to report, just wanted to check in and share my excitement.

I'm trying to come up with a touring plan since the time we will be there is going to be SO busy.

As a Disneylander, I'm not sure this is doable. Anybody with a lot of WDW knowledge---help us out!

MK opens at 8 on Good Friday.
What time should we leave our hotel (Hyatt Grand Cypress) to get to the gates by 8 am?

We have reservations at Chef Mickey's at 1050. Is it doable to do

1. Dumbo
2. Peter Pan (getting a fast pass for later)
3. Pooh
4. It's a Small World
5. Snow White
6. Fast pass for Pooh later

From 8-10:15 or so? Is 1015 time enough to leave FL and get on the Monorail to Chef Mickey's on time?

Ohhhh, I get a knot in my stomach just thinking about it. I'm a little OCD, can you tell? I don't want to have everything planned---but I do want to maximize our attractions and minimize my 2 year old's wait in line!

After we eat, I figure we would head back to the MK around noon and get a fast pass for Buzz later, ride TTA, maybe ride Stitch, and hope for a fast pass for SM.

Then, around 2, I thought we would leave and go back to the hotel and rest, take naps, relax until about six or so and then head back to the parks, refreshed to use our FPs on Pooh, watch Philharmagic, use FP on Peter Pan, Buzz, and Space.

Does that sound Doable?

 

[OhMari]

Hi, I'll be there during Easter too. April 4-12.

-anyone know how long we should give ourselves to go from the MK to Chef Mickey's by monorail?

The mono-rail will go counter clock wise, so it will go to the Grand Floridian First, Poly, then Contemporary. So if you really want to hop on the mono-rail, I would give it a good 45 minutes. Otherwise take the little path (walk-way) from the MK to Chef Mickey's. Chef mickey's is in the Contemporary. It is only a 10 minute walk.

MK opens at 8 on Good Friday.
What time should we leave our hotel (Hyatt Grand Cypress) to get to the gates by 8 am?

I heard that the MK may open at 7:00 a.m. because of Easter. Only on-site guest are suppose to know that, but I heard they are not to careful checking for on or off sites guests. I can let you know if this happens. I would say you need to leave at least 45 minutes to arrive 15 minutes before opening.

We have reservations at Chef Mickey's at 1050. Is it doable to do

1. Dumbo
2. Peter Pan (getting a fast pass for later)
3. Pooh
4. It's a Small World
5. Snow White
6. Fast pass for Pooh later

I bet you get it done, most people move first to Tomorrowland, so you will stay ahead of the crowds. Dumbo is the number one ride and as the day go on, it takes longer and longer.

The rest of your itinerary for MK sounds good. I hope the crowds don't go capacity like Christmas did. I plan on doing early morning at MK, leaving after Crystal Palace at noon and coming back at 6:30 p.m. I will be there the day before Easter. My dd is marching before Spectro.

And I am your neighbor to the North. Her bus company is from Gurnee IL that is taking her h.s. band to Florida.

Congradulations on your student teaching.

What are your other days for parks?