NEWS FLASH: You must be 4YO to go to Disney! Oct '11 PTR, 10/24 WE'RE BACK! p 18

[Pixiedust530]

to my very first Pre-Trip Report. I have been excessively planning this trip for what seems like an eternity. It's probably been more like a year or so, but considering I still have 7 months to go....that's an eternity!

I am a Disney veteran...this trip in Oct. will be my 6th. Although I am a veteran, I am by no means an expert. My first 4 trips were before the age of 14 and I had little to no input on the trip's activities. If there's one VERY important thing you need to know about me, it's that I am an obsessive compulsive planner....and I do mean OBSESSIVE! Not having input (ah hem...control) makes me crazy!

My most recent trip was as an adult with a group of friends. The original trip was to be 2 couples (myself and my "then" husband were one of the 2) and another male friend. About a month before the trip the other couple split up and my only female companion on the trip backed out. So....as a 20 something I went to Disney with 3 guys (NO PLANNING SKILLS) and to top it off found out I was pregnant the day we left home. Let's just say the trip was not exactly what I had hoped.

This time around I am taking the bull by the horns and ensuring that my visit to the World is as perfect as possible. If you have any extra Pixie Dust lying around please send it my way! I'll take all the good vibes I can get!

I am so excited to share my trip plans with all of you. As I said, I am by no means a Disney expert...but from what I have read here on the boards, MANY of you out there ARE experts. Please feel free to make suggestions, provide input on my plans or just join in on the fun! I hope you will follow along with me as I share all the wonderful things I have planned for our family vacation!

It's getting late so I must wrap it up for tonight....

NEXT UP - Introductions of the Cast


**TABLE OF CONTENTS**
Introductions: The Cast of Characters
The When & Where
How We're Getting There
4 Years Old to Go to WDW?
ADR Details
Magic Kingdom MUST Do's
EPCOT MUST Do's
Hollywood Studios MUST Do's
Animal Kingdom MUST Do's
Mini Update: A 'lil Disney shopping!
Official ADR List: Reservations Confirmed!
Disney Math
KY Derby and Disney
Day 1 - Travel Day
Day 2 - Hollywood Studios
Day 3 - EPCOT
Day 4 - Rest Day
MORE Disney Shopping
Day 5 - Magic Kingdom
Life Update: Who and How!
Fun NEW idea in Progress...Video Included!
Day 6 - Animal Kingdom
Day7 & 8 - EPCOT, MNSSHP & Departure
Trip Update w/ pics
Packing and Tie-Dye
The BIG Surprise & We Leave TODAY!
WE'RE BACK!!!

 

[Pixiedust530]

Welcome back! Next up is the Cast of Characters....and we are definitely characters!

ME-Stephanie: (31... 32 on the trip)
I am mom to Caden, the most sweet and lovable 4 year old on the planet. I am the mastermind behind this entire trip and I have been planning like crazy for over a year. I am a compulsive planner. I LOVE to plan...as in making spreadsheets for EVERYTHING and organizing them in a pretty little binder. I love ALL things Disney and am looking forward to something new this year...Food & Wine at EPCOT!

Wayne: (41)
Wayne is my wonderful boyfriend of 2 years. Caden and I are so lucky to have him in our life. He is a Disney virgin (never even been to Florida) and I am so excited to share the Magic with him. He's not quite as enthusiastic about the trip as I am, but he's very laid back and just goes with the flow. He lets me be the crazy planner I am. He is an animal lover (we have 4 dogs) and has a passion for taking pictures. I am looking forward to him capturing all the wonderful scenery at WDW.

A few pics of us together:

DS-Caden: (4)
My one and only little man...I call him my Cader-Bug! This will be his very first trip to WDW. I have decided to surprise him last minute (more on that later), but I want to make sure he KNOWS what Disney World is and is excited when I tell him we are going. I have been showing him the planning DVD and other videos and pics online and he is very excited (even though he doesn't know he's going yet)! He is my pride and joy and I can't wait to introduce him to the magic!

When I initially started planning this trip over a year ago the cast consisted of just the 3 of us above. When I started telling my mom and grandparents about the trip they had that look in their eye like they wanted to go. My grandparents (Caden's Great-Grandparents) took me on 3 of my 5 Disney trips as a child. They love Disney too and really want to be there for Caden's first visit...he is their ONLY great-grandchild. Caden is my mom's only grandchild so she of course wanted to jump on board to be there. I basically told them all that if any of them wanted to come along they were more than welcome. Sooooo....the trip now has 3 additional cast members...introductions below.

Sara: (69... 70 on the trip)
My grandma. She's AMAZING and was like a second mother to me most of my childhood. We are very close and a lot alike. she is very mucha planner like me. It will be hard for her to follow my plans for the trip, but she'll do it because she loves me! She was there for my first WDW trip in 1984 and wants to be there for Caden's first trip as well.

Charlie (70... 71 on the trip)
My grandpa. He's the Eeyore of the group. He's fun and full of energy when he wants to be, but he's the grump for sure. He is excited to be there for Caden's first trip, but is already complaining about all the walking he'll have to do. You would think that after being married to my grandma for 51 years that he would be used to a Type A, compulsive planner......NOPE! He asked me if I had bathroom breaks scheduled in or if he was just out of luck.

Suzanne (50... 51 on the trip)
My mom. She is super excited about going to WDW with us. Right now she is still trying to save enough $$ so she can go. We have included her on the reservations for now, but none of us have the extra funds to pay her way so she will HAVE to save enough if she wants to go. I won't go into details, but lets just say that this will be a CHALLENGE for my mom. I hope she is able to go, but I know that I can't stress and worry over it.

There it is....the Cast of Characters for our October adventure in The World!

 

[blessedmom4]

Caden is a cutie! How wonderful he has grandparents who WANT to spend time with im, what a blessing! Looking forward to reading more...

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Whoohoo! Hi Stephanie! You had me at Obsessive planner!

 

[-Hope-]

Hi Stephanie- another obsessive planner following you over from Karen's PTR.

 

[Pixiedust530]

Caden is a cutie! How wonderful he has grandparents who WANT to spend time with im, what a blessing! Looking forward to reading more...

We are VERY blessed! The best part for me is that Caden has GREAT-grandparents that are still alive and in good enough health to join us on a week long journey! I really can't imagine what it would be like without them tagging along. Thanks for finding your way here and for following along!

Whoohoo! Hi Stephanie! You had me at Obsessive planner!

Hehehe....so glad you came over! It's good to know there are more people like me out there...I tried to tell my boyfriend I wasn't the only one! Now I have PROOF! Bwahahaha

Hi Stephanie- another obsessive planner following you over from Karen's PTR.

Awww...thanks for joining in. This is so exciting for me and I am thrilled to have other obsessive planners to share the excitement!

 

[Pixiedust530]

In all my excitement to get started on my PTR I realized I left out some pretty basic information...the when and where! DUH!

When I originally began planning this trip over a year ago I was shooting for September 2011. I knew it was one of the least crowded times to go and also one of the least expensive. $$ is a HUGE factor in many of my choices!

A little background info: I am a single mom (although I do have a wonderful boyfriend) and my son's father and I alternate years for claiming Caden on our taxes. I knew that the ONLY way I could ever afford to do WDW (at least the way I want to do it) was with a large tax return. That reason alone was why I was aiming for a fall 2011 trip to WDW since I got to claim Caden this year.

Well...I had been unemployed (laid off from teaching ) for over a year and I FINALLY started a new job in August 2010. I work in a middle school as a data manager. Since I have the summers off I only get 3 personal days during the school year, so my week long trip to WDW in Sept was NOT going to happen!

I waited for the 2011-2012 school calendar to be released to see when our Fall Break would be...it has a history of varying from year to year (even with the # of days we get). It was finally released right before Christmas and Fall Break falls on Thurs. 10/20, Fri. 10/21, and Mon. 10/24. Since I get 3 personal days I can take them from Mon. 10/17 thru Wed. 10/19.

So...we decided to take our trip from October 15-October 22 (Saturday to Saturday). This gives us a full 7 nights but puts us home in time to give me a couple days to recuperate before heading back to work on Tuesday October 25. I'm sure I will be buried in laundry

Currently we are booked at All-Star Movies and I am totally content with that. If some AMAZING deal comes out or I get a fantastic PIN code we MIGHT upgrade to a moderate, but we shall see...

Caden is totally Toy Story obsessed so we have requested a room in one of the Toy Story buildings. We have also requested connecting rooms. Myself, Wayne and Caden will have one room and my grandparents and mom will have the other.

Thank you Google for letting me "borrow" the pictures!

 

[exwdwcm]

I'm here. and we have the exact same dates!!!!!! We are there Oct 14-22 at Bay Lake Towers (DVC).

Your son is such a cutie! How great he will get to have his first trip with his whole family. It will be so special. I can't wait to hear about how you will surprise him! My son is 3.5. He will be turning 4 a week after our trip (Oct 30). So this is a birthday trip for him. My DH turns 40 at the end of August and I turn 37 in Sept, so it is really celebrating for all of us. It is our 10 year anniv this year too. We have a lot to celebrate, i guess we will wear a lot of buttons.

We are planning MNSSHP and food and wine too. We are going to take Will to the pirates league and do a pirates and pals cruise if i can get one to celebrate his bday!

i am so excited too and can't wait. Like you, i am totally OCD when it comes to planning. My DH is just along for the ride. I ask him where he wants to eat and if there is anything special he wants to see or do, but other than that, he goes with what i plan, i guess that makes it easy, right?

i can't wait to read more of your plans!

 

[Pixiedust530]

I'm here. and we have the exact same dates!!!!!! We are there Oct 14-22 at Bay Lake Towers (DVC).

Your son is such a cutie! How great he will get to have his first trip with his whole family. It will be so special. I can't wait to hear about how you will surprise him! My son is 3.5. He will be turning 4 a week after our trip (Oct 30). So this is a birthday trip for him. My DH turns 40 at the end of August and I turn 37 in Sept, so it is really celebrating for all of us. It is our 10 year anniv this year too. We have a lot to celebrate, i guess we will wear a lot of buttons.

We are planning MNSSHP and food and wine too. We are going to take Will to the pirates league and do a pirates and pals cruise if i can get one to celebrate his bday!

i am so excited too and can't wait. Like you, i am totally OCD when it comes to planning. My DH is just along for the ride. I ask him where he wants to eat and if there is anything special he wants to see or do, but other than that, he goes with what i plan, i guess that makes it easy, right?

i can't wait to read more of your plans!

You know, the more and more I get into the depths of planning I am discovering that I am SUPER excited to be traveling in October instead of September. I think we have the perfect dates!

My boyfriend will be 42 in November so this is sort of a birthday trip for him as well.

I have considered doing The Pirate's League. I showed it to Caden on the Planning DVD and he was very intrigued. I'll have to wait and see on that one.

I'm glad you've joined in. It's fun to share the excitement with other people just like you!

 

[Nermel9]

I'm in! I'm going in October too, but earlier in the month, but it will be fun to plan along with you! I haven't started my PTR yet, but I plan to start one in a couple weeks, and will let you know when I do, right now I'm trying to finish up my November 2010 TR!

 

[Pixiedust530]

I'm in! I'm going in October too, but earlier in the month, but it will be fun to plan along with you! I haven't started my PTR yet, but I plan to start one in a couple weeks, and will let you know when I do, right now I'm trying to finish up my November 2010 TR!

Thinks for joining in. I'll keep an eye out for your PTR! I may just have to go check out your Nov. TR as well...as if I didn't have enough to keep up with! Hahaha

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

You DO have the perfect dates!!! We went in 2009 from the 19th to the 27th and it was PERFECT weather and low crowds! I would have done it again if it weren't for money and a conflict in dates, so we're going the first week of Oct! I'm excited to hear all about your plans!!

 

[-Hope-]

Those dates sound great- good weather, good crowds, should be a great time to be at Disney!

We stayed at ASMu, right next door to Movies in September and I think you'll like the value resort, especially with a little one- the theming is just fun and over the top which kids (and ahem, some adults) really like.

 

[exwdwcm]

You know, the more and more I get into the depths of planning I am discovering that I am SUPER excited to be traveling in October instead of September. I think we have the perfect dates!

My boyfriend will be 42 in November so this is sort of a birthday trip for him as well.

I have considered doing The Pirate's League. I showed it to Caden on the Planning DVD and he was very intrigued. I'll have to wait and see on that one.

I'm glad you've joined in. It's fun to share the excitement with other people just like you!

yes, I am super excited about October. We've done December the past two trips and love it, but i was ready for something different. Be sure and get DBF a birthday button!!

we did a girls trip (mom and sisters and I) to DL last September over my bday and i wore a button and i swear we got a huge free dessert everywhere we ate a table service meal- a brownie, chocolate mousse and so on! it was great! We didn't expect that and it was such a nice treat.

The pirate league is affordable too! i don't think a lot of people know about it (the general public), since they don't advertise it heavily.

 

[lbuzz52]

great start! our first trip was when my daughter was 4, and we went with grandparents and my nephew Cayden came with us LOL! It was also in October. I'd go back that time of year in a heartbeat! Lookig forward to more!

 

[Pixiedust530]

You DO have the perfect dates!!! We went in 2009 from the 19th to the 27th and it was PERFECT weather and low crowds! I would have done it again if it weren't for money and a conflict in dates, so we're going the first week of Oct! I'm excited to hear all about your plans!!

That makes me feel great! I was slightly disappointed that we couldn't make Sept. work but I'm really PUMPED about October!

Those dates sound great- good weather, good crowds, should be a great time to be at Disney!

We stayed at ASMu, right next door to Movies in September and I think you'll like the value resort, especially with a little one- the theming is just fun and over the top which kids (and ahem, some adults) really like.

I was just talking to my grandma last night that if a great discount is released or I get a Pin code I don't think we'll change from ASMo even if we could afford it. I think Caden will LOVE the theming and it will be the most fun for him. He's really gotten into Fantasia & Sorcerer Mickey so I know he will LOVE the Fantasia Pool at ASMo!

yes, I am super excited about October. We've done December the past two trips and love it, but i was ready for something different. Be sure and get DBF a birthday button!!

Oooooh.....I didn't think of that. I'm sure he'll cringe when I tell him he has to wear it...but I'm sure he'll manage!

we did a girls trip (mom and sisters and I) to DL last September over my bday and i wore a button and i swear we got a huge free dessert everywhere we ate a table service meal- a brownie, chocolate mousse and so on! it was great! We didn't expect that and it was such a nice treat.

The pirate league is affordable too! i don't think a lot of people know about it (the general public), since they don't advertise it heavily.

I did see that it was affordable. If we get a pin code or a room discount I'll most definitely use the $$ we save to treat him to the Pirates League!

great start! our first trip was when my daughter was 4, and we went with grandparents and my nephew Cayden came with us LOL! It was also in October. I'd go back that time of year in a heartbeat! Lookig forward to more!

So glad to have you here! WOW...grandparents, a 4 year old, and a Cayden....sounds like a FUN trip! I've thought about something similar!

 

[Pixiedust530]

It seems like all the buzz on the DIS right now is about airfare. JetBlue, Southwest, AirTran….how much are flights? Oct. schedules being released, etc. I was thinking that now is a good time to share our travel plans.

As much as I would love to fly to WDW, it was never really a consideration. It’s just not in the budget. That means that Wayne (DBF), Caden (DS) and I will be driving…for 14+ hours. We have 2 choices…split the 14 hours up over 2 days and add in an extra overnight stay OR drive straight thru for 14 hours. We’ve decided that driving straight thru is the way to go for us! My grandparents on the other hand have decided that driving that far is too much for them, so they will be flying. I actually helped my grandma book their flights yesterday. If my mom ends up going she will ride down with us.

Our check-in day is Sat. Oct. 15. Although we won’t be heading to a park that day I don’t want it to be a total waste. That means that our 14 hour drive will actually begin on Friday night. I get off work on Friday at 3pm. I will come home and take a short nap so I will be fresh for the drive. We’ll have a late dinner (7pm) and then get on the road about 10pm. By the time we leave I will be so excited & running on pure adrenaline that I should be MORE than awake to drive all night. Wayne will probably sleep most of the way, but he’ll take over driving if I need a break. I’m just crossing my fingers that Caden will sleep most of the way.

Depending on stops, construction delay & traffic we should arrive at the resort some time around noon. Since our room probably won’t be ready, we will plan to eat lunch and swim in the resort pool. I’m sure Caden will be ready to let off some energy by then. My grandparents flight arrives at 3:35pm so hopefully they will be to the resort by 5pm (they’ll be taking Magical Express).

The return trip will just be more of the same...driving!

 

[-Hope-]

We've done 14 hours before and our kids weren't much bigger than Caden (not to Disney- that's 17 hours for us) and it was fine. I don't think I'd want to go much further because it was exhausting but absolutely doable with two adults. We just made sure not to rush the kids when we stopped for gas and that we had plenty of things to keep them occupied as well as lots of pillows and blankets to encourage sleep. We also left super early (like 4 am) so they would sleep a lot of the way, I wasn't brave enough to try driving overnight since dh isn't a night person and I don't really like driving at night. We flew to Disney last year and given the choice I'd rather drive, it just suits our personalities better.

 

[Pixiedust530]

We've done 14 hours before and our kids weren't much bigger than Caden (not to Disney- that's 17 hours for us) and it was fine. I don't think I'd want to go much further because it was exhausting but absolutely doable with two adults. We just made sure not to rush the kids when we stopped for gas and that we had plenty of things to keep them occupied as well as lots of pillows and blankets to encourage sleep. We also left super early (like 4 am) so they would sleep a lot of the way, I wasn't brave enough to try driving overnight since dh isn't a night person and I don't really like driving at night. We flew to Disney last year and given the choice I'd rather drive, it just suits our personalities better.

I don't mind driving at night. In fact, I prefer driving at night as long as it isn't raining. I HATE driving in the rain at night. UGH!

Caden has been on a 10 hour car trip but that was when he was 18 months old. He went with his dad on a 7 hour car trip back in December. Dad said he did fine but wouldn't sleep at all. However, they also traveled in a van with another couple and their 2.5 year old that is SUPER whiny & gets his way on everything. I'm sure the whiny, cranky kid kept my kiddo awake...not to mention that dad forgot to pack anything for him to do or play with in the car. I have all sorts of ideas & activities planned for him in the car & also have a portable DVD player and he has a Leapster Explorer handheld so I think he will have plenty to keep him occupied! Let's hope!

 

[Parla]

Hi Stephanie! Thanks for stopping by my PTR. I'm so excited that you are going to be there the exact same time. It's like we'll be planning together!

Hope you warned the rest of your family that YOU are in charge and they must follow the plan. My husband is very good about letting me plan and just going along with it. Our first trip was our Honeymoon. It was 1993 and we were clueless. When we went with the kids in 2006 (with a plan) it was completely different and we just loved it so much more.