No Sleep Till Disney! We can save money by flying at 6am! (Updates!! 12/7 - p.12)

[JenSop]

Hi everyone!

Trip Report time!

We had a great time (as usual!) on our recent trip and I would LOVE to share it!

I feel that I learned a lot on my last TR...

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2218703&highlight=jensop

...and I plan to use that knowledge for good!

For example, my personal goals are to put up timely updates and finish this TR before we ring in 2011!

(Seriously...)

Our cast of players includes....

JEN (me!) And just like last TR, no ages here folks. I work in theatre and want to keep my age private...
Anyway, I’m a singer - classical, musical theatre, jazz, early music, oratorio - you name it, I sing it! I also teach private voice lessons, work part time retail, AND my NEW EXCITING JOB..... a job that is second only to my passion for singing... Disney Travel Agent!!! Yes, just this past May, I started working as a Disney specialist for a great travel agency! Right place + right time = dream job! Since I don't want to get in trouble with the Disboards, I will not be posting the name of my agency or anything remotely close to it. If you're dying to know, just PM me!

I’ve been visiting WDW since I was eight and have loved it ever since!

BRIAN (DH) - Brian’s a music teacher (and HUGE Star Wars fan, hence the little Chewbacca head there - it's not because he's super hairy...) Right now he’s primarily elementary band - meaning he teaches all those kids how to play their band instruments for the very first time. This year he is also teaching beginning guitar class at the high school. He also teaches lessons privately, works part time retail, and plays in one of the local community bands. He hasn’t been to WDW as much as myself, but he loves it nonetheless!

We're DVC (Disney Vacation Club) members since 2007 and for the first time this year became AP (Annual Pass) holders!

(Some pics from last year's trip...)

What does our trip hold in store?!

...trying out a new airline, new restaurants, practicing my German with the CM's in Epcot, a split stay between AKV (Animal Kingdom Villas) and the new BLT (Bay Lake Tower), EMH's galore (we made it to 3am AND 2am!), the return of the Main Street Electrical Light Parade, making friends with CM's, Regular AND Deluxe Dining Plan, a visit to First Aid, insanely oppressive heat, and so much more!!!

So pull up a chair, grab a Dole Whip, and let's get this TR started!

 

[JenSop]

Part One: Getting ready!

As usual, Brian and I are always super busy. Those who know us IRL know that this is actually an understatement.

But I was determined to not be too stressed out during the time leading up to our trip!

Let's just say that is was business as usual! Stress and all! Oh well!

We booked our room at BLT right around our 7 month window, as we thought it would be fun to try out the new resort.

But as we got closer, we really thought it would be fun to go earlier. So first we booked a single night at the beginning of the trip on cash at Wilderness Lodge. But Brian was thinking of even more days. At that point, it didn't make sense to pay cash - so we decided to book two days at the beginning of the trip using our DVC points at AKV - which made me super happy, as it's our home resort and our absolute FAVORITE place to stay!

Of course, the next challenge was airfare. After last year's drive, we swore we'd never do it again! But airfare was proving to be quite pricey for the last week in July. BUT, Southwest had some really good prices! I did my research here on the Dis and decided to give them a try!

*******

Now, some of you may remember that last year I got turquoise streaks in my hair for vacation. They washed out in less than two weeks and it was a fun thing to do for vacation! So this year I thought I'd do the same thing, only this time try out a new color! After a quick poll of my facebook friends, I decided to go with pink. At the hair dressers', they had two shades of pink. One was really light pink (think Jem from the Jem and the Holograms cartoon from the 80's), and the other was a darker intense pink (think punk rocker.) The hair dressers were convinced that the light pink would fade away in days, so I should do the intense pink so it can fade to the color I want.

Well...

Let's just say I still have pink hair. Over a month later. Yeah.

Here's a pic on the very first day after getting back from the salon....

Not to say that I dislike it, I'm just ready for it to be gone. I didn't want to go into the fall audition season with pink hair. I just don't think that will go over well at opera auditions....

But determined to be super coordinated and workin' the Disney-cute-factor, I also decided to give myself a Disney pedicure using those nail pens you can get at the drugstore.

(If you don't like feet pictures, scroll on past...)

*******

Now one last nod to our third character in the TR - who doesn't get to go on the trip, but who we think of every day while we're away... our kitty baby, Grey Kitty:

Look at that adorable little face! (I had to figure out a way to work him into this!)


******

 

[JenSop]

Part Two: Sleep is for wimps! Day One - Friday, July 23, 2010.

The morning before our trip started out very early. I got up before morning's early light so I could do the Southwest online check-in at exactly 24 hours before our flight to snag us a good number for boarding. Since Southwest does not assign seats, you get assigned a number in the order that you check in. The farther back in boarding order, the more likely you'll be sitting separate from the rest of your party (and from your carry on bags!) But my early rising paid off - I got us spots in the A boarding group!

Then the night before our trip was all about packing. (We were quite happy to not be paying for checked luggage I have to say!)

We actually got done and I was in bed at 12:30 am....









....only to have to get up at 2:00am.

Yes, that's right. Our flight was at 6:10am out of Philly. We live a little over an hour north of Philly, so we got on the road around 3:15am. We would be leaving our car at a friend's house near the airport, and he would drive us to the airport. The plan worked perfectly. But I have to say, i was shocked at how many people were already at the airport at 4:45 in the morning!

Other than one gate change, we got to Orlando with no problems!

I was super excited to be getting to the World so early on our first day! But did it pay off in the end? Would we actually be able to make it through EMH at Magic Kingdom that night on no sleep?! Bad luck turns into something good later in the day! Stay tuned for more!

 

[tinkerbellandeyor]

 

[JenSop]

Welcome! You're officially my first subscriber! Yay!

 

[stitch1986]

ooo I am in

 

[JenSop]

ooo I am in

Welcome to you too! I'm so glad to have readers already!!!

For a second there, I was like, "Oh wow, another crazy soul up at this late hour!" Then I noticed you're a few time zones away from my crazy self...

Good night all!

 

[ChelleMouse]

Love the pink in your hair - so fun!

I'm in too!

 

[Minnie J]

Im in a love reading about anyone staying at the BLT and anyone willing to dye their hair colors is my BFF

 

[Minnie J]

I wanted to comment on your singing as well. i listened to some clips on your website and thought, " She sounds like that woman in Sound of Music" Which I do love Very talented!!

 

[never_enough_pooh]

I'm in!

Can't wait to hear how your trip went!

 

[JenSop]

Hi Everyone!

So glad to have you all on board!

And thanks for the support with the hair. People loved it or hated it. (My grandmother fell into that second category! )

Thanks for the compliment Minnie J! I just recorded my third CD earlier this month and we're now in post-production. That's part of why I'm goaling myself to keep up with the updates! The music stuff can sometimes be all-consuming and leaves little time for anything else.

A new update coming later today!

 

[disfreak2]

You are an amazingly taented singer. I am also enjoying your trip report.

 

[JenSop]

You are an amazingly taented singer. I am also enjoying your trip report.

Thanks so much! I'm glad to have you on board!

 

[mermaid764]

I'm in

Can't wait to hear all about it

 

[Mickeefan]

I'm in! I love your pedicure/toes. Very cute.

Looking forward to more!

 

[stitch1986]

Welcome to you too! I'm so glad to have readers already!!!

For a second there, I was like, "Oh wow, another crazy soul up at this late hour!" Then I noticed you're a few time zones away from my crazy self...

Good night all!

haha well i usually stay up late anyways lol

 

[JenSop]

Hello to the new subscribers!!! I'm so glad to have you all joining my TR!

DAY ONE Continued.....


So one thing about taking an insanely early flight and getting to your resort super early.... the room's not ready. Especially during a very busy season.

But we expected this. For our two nights at AKV, we were booked for a value studio. We did a value studio last year and ended up with a great savannah view. (Value rooms are slightly smaller and do not have a view category.) We put in a request again for savannah, but since we booked the trip so much later in our booking window, we didn't get the same pixie dust as last year.

BUT - we did get assigned a pool view. Which was perfectly fine. We personally LOVE the pool at Jambo House!

Knowing the room wasn't ready, we headed out to Animal Kingdom.

The first thing we had to do was get our tickets.

Now, in the past, we've always gotten our tickets in advance through AAA. (That was before I became a TA!) BUT this year we got in just in time for the Give a Day Get a Day promotion. We helped to spruce up a local community center and in exchange, we each got one-day vouchers for Disney World.

So after doing some research on the Dis, I found out that we could trade that voucher in as a sort of "coupon" towards the purchase of a larger ticket. Since I'm doing two trips this year, I already knew I'd want an Annual Pass (AP) but we also decided to get Brian an AP too. (This means we HAVE to go next year in June so our AP's still cover us.)

Between the GAD promo and our DVC discount, our AP's came down to just $330 each! Awesome!

The CM at the window was a chatty one. It took us awhile to get our tickets.... but that's totally okay. I like friendly people!

After entering AK, we found our first Photopass CM and got our picture taken. I pre-ordered the Photopass CD before leaving to be able to get the discount price, so I wanted to get our money's worth!

Oh goodness, that's some PINK hair there. It seriously seemed like it was spreading those first couple days. I was worried I was going to wake up one of the mornings and my whole head would be pink.


Here's one of our shots of the Tree of Life:

After that, we went right to Africa to the Pangini Forest Trail. I had two missions:

1. Visit with my Facebook friend Elise. (We hadn't met before IRL, but we had several mutual friends and we are both singers who do a lot of Gilbert and Sullivan shows.) She was working at Pangini that day. (She's a CM - did I forget to mention that? Oops!)

2. I wanted to see the baby gorilla!!!!

We wandered through Pangini, me looking at all the CM's to see which one might be Elise. Eventually we made it to the gorilla area....

The big guy was sleeping VERY soundly. And no baby!

Just then, I found Elise!

We chatted for quite a bit and she let us know that the baby and mama were in the cave sleeping, so that's why we couldn't see them. She told us to come back first thing in the morning one of the other days. That's when mama is usually foraging and carrying baby with her.

Elise also told me that she MIGHT be able to take me to the princess audition I was considering going to later in our trip. This was one of the first times that one of the auditions coincided with my trips. I had done a princess audition before in NYC, but that was for Tokyo Disney. It doesn't seem that the Casting Directors from Florida do too many auditions in NYC. Elise and I were going to keep in touch during the week and see if it could work out!

We also saw this tired gorilla...

After that, we wandered over to Asia to grab some food at the Yak and Yeti counter service place.

Now, a goal on this trip was to try to do some things that we don't usually do. That way I'd have even more first hand knowledge for my clients.

One of the things we usually DON'T do is shows. Yes, I know - we're both musicians! And I do theatre myself! *ducking my head in shame*

BUT, I find it very difficult while watching any show to just sit back and relax without being critical of the singing. Please don't think of me as a snob! But I've been trained for a really long time as an opera singer, AND I've been teaching voice lessons for quite a long time too. I'm highly attuned to hearing every. little. thing. That's my job when I'm working with my students!

However, this trip, we wanted to see some shows! So after lunch, it was off to see the Finding Nemo show.

The show was actually really entertaining. And no matter what I think of a person's actual vocal quality, I can always recognize when a performer is giving all the energy they have to put on a good show. And that is something I ALWAYS appreciate!

The performers put on a great show. I always like to clap nice and strongly - I know what it's like to be up on stage, feeding off of the audience's energy. The more the audience gives, the more the performers can give too! It's a fascinating exchange - from on stage you can actually feel the energy of the people in the room. And there's just NOTHING in the whole wide world that's better than performing in front of a really great crowd. (Not even Disney is better than that feeling!)

After the show, we headed over to Expedition Everest.

Gotta love those rides that have the Single Rider option. No fast pass necessary, no waiting in a long line!

I think we waited maybe ten minutes in the single rider line. And we did notice that the skies were not looking too great. But nothing could bring our spirits down! We were in Disney! We were getting ready to ride one of the most awesome rides around! Yeah!!!

After EE, we headed over to Dinosaur to see how bad the standby wait would be.... And honestly, it was okay, so we got in line. Just in time to beat the rain.

By the time we got off the ride, it was pouring. Brian brought our ponchos, but it was SO HOT. (Why does Florida always have its record heat stints while we're down there?!?!?) I had no desire to cover myself completely in plastic, so I just decided I would get wet. No biggie.

All the while, we kept checking the phone to see if our room would be ready. And every time, we came up with nothing.

However, at this point we decided to head back to the resort in hopes that it would be ready when we got there. Besides, we had reservations for the 5:15 luau at the Poly. I had to start getting ready!

Would our room be ready? Would we make it to the luau? Were we still crazy enough to think we could actually make it all the way through EMH that night?

You'll have to wait and see!

 

[stitch1986]

oooo that is a awesome way to start your trip I like seeing the shows I loved Nemo and the lion king one too but love your trip so far cant wait for more
and man it seems like every TR it has rained I hope it dont rain in oct haha

 

[Minnie J]

OMG I loved the Nemo musical and their voices and performance was keeping me feeling like I was 5 the entire time!! I loved every minute of it. Lion king is a showstopper too I loved that show!! I cant wait to see if you get a room by now. Id ask for animal towels on my bed for making me wait I love Disney