My...I don't leave for another 133 days, pre-trip report

[maslex]

As the title reads, I don’t leave for another 133 days. July 8th to be exact. I have basically read every possible post on my three favorite Disney message boards (Disboards, TGM & Passporter), bought my very first Passporter (well worth the $$$), subscribed to TGM for the first time (whole lotta reading going on there LOL) and researched, researched and researched as much as I could while planning this trip. I have also printed out menus, itinerarys and also ride descriptions. Let me tell ya a little about who is going….

Me—Love the whole Disney thing. I am a planning/organizing FREAK!!! Have already been 3 times (first time on our honeymoon when I was 22). The first two times I had NO CLUE whatsoever about these boards, thus I went to Disney “BLINDLY”. The third time I went (which was in 2005 I had basically just found out about the Disney message boards and everything you could learn from them) So I took what info I had and had a much better time. BUT NOW….Whoa baby, watch out. I am armed and dangerous!!! I have a HUGE folder with all kinds of stuff that I have printed out…menus, our daily itinerary, ride descriptions, our ADR’s, pamphlets, etc. I’ll go a step further and tell ya how ridiculous I am. I am an avid scrapbooker and plan on creating a WHOPPER of a scrapbook for this upcoming trip. I’ve never used Photopass either, so that will be a must do. I have just spent a small mint buying all kinds of paper, cardstock, stickers, embellishments & ribbons, OH MY!!! I then created a document where I decided what scrapbook pages I would like to do and what pictures I need for that particular page. (nice huh?) Here is an example of day one…. ((DAY 1-Limo at house, luggage, all of us in limo. At the airport---plane, waiting for plane, take off, landing, in air. POP Icons & rest of hotel (lobby, room, dining hall). Lego Place (Lego Statues). Downtown Disney (overall) Goofy’s Candy Shop (making candy & inside shop, sign outside) Kona (us 4 at the table, sign of restaurant & food)) CRAZY HUH? Well, ya see…I have been reading many trip reports and I love them all. I especially love to look at everyone’s pictures. And each time I read a report, there are pictures that I would have never thought of taking (like the sign upon entering the restaurant or of us standing in a ride line) So I thought I would write everything down ahead of time and take the list with me. As for rides, I remember loving them as a kid. My dad and I used to go on all kids of roller coasters (love 'em) But now, I'm always so apprehensive about going on them--maybe since I'm an adult now. Who knows. I still love a good coaster but the ones that go in a loop... I mean, I still go on them and love them once I get off, but it's the "getting in line for them". Foodwise, I'm pretty adventerous (to a point) and not real picky. I'm really excited to use the dining plan and try some different things. So anyways, enough about me… Here’s the rest of the troop

DH—LOVES Disney. Wants to move down there so we could go every weekend. (He’d probably go everyday if possible). He is letting me have full range of all the planning. He has only put in two requests and I gladly granted them. He said, I don’t care what we do, it’s all up to you. But I do know that I want to eat in Canada (he’s not good with names) and at Sci-Fi. DONE!!! He is VERY picky when it comes to food and he's basically a burger/fries or meat/potatoes type of guy. He also loves the rides (except coasters...he will go on but not a big fan) and loves to take in a lot of the shows.

DS11—He is my coaster lovin boy. Anything fast and thrilling he is there. He is also a big water park fan. When I told him we were going to Disney again he said….”only if we go to a water park” He does love the parks too. Don’t worry. He's okay when it comes to eating. He'll usually try different things here and there but mostly eats burgers, hot dogs & sometimes chicken.

DS10—He’s not AS adventurous as his big brother but does loves rides nonetheless. He did TOT and RNR Coaster on our last time and claimed he loved both but he’s apprehensive about trying Expediditon Everest. But I’m sure since everyone in our party is going, he’ll want to go too. He is also a big character lover. Loves to have his picture taken!!! He's my little ham. As for food....he's my pain in the butt. He would marry macaroni and cheese if he could and basically only eats that, hot dogs, chicken strips, pizza, pb&j and the occasional burger. He refuses to try different things, so I'm sure this will prove to be pleasant on our trip.

DSIL—She’s another Disney lover. Does love rides but nothing too traumatic. She actually used the chicken exit when we went on RNR Coaster. So she made me go all by myself. Well, not this time. I’m SO dragging her on it with me!!!! I think she's pretty okay too when it comes to food. Will try a few new things here and there.

DBIL—He’s not much for rides (broke his neck when he was younger, so most of the more thrilling rides, he can’t do. He can still do a lot just not the really fast, jerky type rides. But still enjoys himself immensely while we’re there. I'm not too sure how he is with food. I know he doesn't like seafood but that's it.

DN11—He’s another one that will try all rides atleast once. I don’t think he’s going back on TOT though. We’ll see.


Here’s our plan of action….
--A 7:05 flight out of Providence, Rhode Island
--Arrive at Orlando Airport at 9:55
--Using Magical Express to get us over to POP Century
--Our first day we are splitting up. SIL, BIL & DN are going to Epcot (they missed Soarin the last time we went down so that’s first on their list). Us, on the other hand are taking our first trip to Downtown Disney. I want to take the boys to the Lego Store & Goofy’s Candy Co. Then it's off to Kona for dinner (we've never been but I'd like to try it and DH would LOVE to check out the hotel and grounds)
--We have an 8 night/9 day stay at POP Century (1st time there)
--We are using the Disney Dining Plan for the very first time, can’t wait on that one.

Here’s our itinerary for the week
Day 1-DTD (never been)
Day 2-Epcot
Day 3-Typhoon Lagoon (never been)
Day 4- Magic Kingdom
Day 5- MGM Studios
Day 6- Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure (never been to IOA)
Day 7- Magic Kingdom
Day 8- Animal Kingdom
Day 9- Departure

Here’s our ADR’s
-Counter Service Credits will be used for our breakfast at POP and a couple lunches throughout the week.

-Snack credits…I’m sure we’ll use them as the week goes by BUT two must haves will definitely be a DOLE WHIP and RICE KRISPIE MICKEY HEAD (the kind that you can make at Goofy’s Candy Co) I’ve never had either one, so those are a must!!! Thanks disboard peoples.

-Table Service Credits will be used here….
-Kona Dinner (first time for us)
-Le Cellier Dinner (been once before and loved it)
-Chef Mickeys Dinner (been once before and loved it---the kids especially loved the “make your own sundaes”)
-Crystal Palace Breakfast (been once before and loved it)
-Liberty Tree Tavern Dinner (first time for us)
-Chef Mickey’s Breakfast (never done breakfast here before)
-Sci-Fi Diner (been once before and loved it)
-Crystal Palace Dinner (never done dinner here before)
-Rainforest Café (been once before and truly loved it)
-Whispering Canyon Café breakfast (been once before and it is now our “family tradition” that we go here on our very last day before heading out to the airport)

I really don’t know what else to do for the next 133 days. I have all ADR’s in order, our itinerary is on it’s final draft, I have read just about every post possible. What’s a girl to do besides twiddling my thumbs. I would LOVE to start my scrpbooking for this trip since I just bought enough stuff to make probably 10 full scrapbooks, but alas, I have no pictures yet. Guess I’ll work on our cruise scrapbook from last year. It’d be nice to get that vacation all scrapbooked and finished so when I get back from Disney I can order my pictures and get to scrappin’ (and since I have the whole summer due to being a school bus driver---I’ll have plenty of time to possibly finish it before heading back to work at the end of August)

Well, I guess that is it for now. I’ll be sure to post a trip report and dining report when I get back!!!! Thanks for reading.