Not-So-Scary WDW Trip

[laufaeson]

My first ever pre-trip report, so bear with me here.

First, an introduction since I've been lurking here amongst the various threads. Hi, I'm Becky and I'm a Disney-holic. I've been going on trips to WDW as often as I could since I was 3. I've been there in 1987, then again in 1996 - I remember the cake castle all to well as a kid. I went back again in 2000 with my high school marching band to march in the SpectroMagic Parade during Disney's Magic Music Days, and then back again in 2007 and 2008. This trip will be my 6th trip, but my fiance's first.

I am so very excited for this trip for a few reasons. Not only do I get to introduce my fiance to my favorite place in the world, but there are 2 special events going on that I've never been able to partake in before - the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival and Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. This is also the first trip I've had complete control over planning as I've gone with family or school in the past and my they did the legwork.

I've been planning this for months, really, but haven't gotten around to doing a PTR. So the nitty-gritty of what I've got planned thus far.
Who: myself, my fiance, a mutual friend, potentially her boyfriend and potentially my parents (they've retired to FL and may join us for a day).
Dates: 9/28/15-10/3/15
Where we're staying: An Embassy Suites off-property. As a Hilton employee I get too good a discount to pass up to stay on-property.

Day #1: Hollywood Studios. We're getting dinner at Mama Melrose's for the Fantasmic dinner package so we don't waste a FP+ on it.
Day #2: EPCOT and the Food and Wine Festival. I gotta say, I'm sad I missed the final days of Maelstrom.
Day #3: Animal Kingdom and Downtown Disney. Since AK closes at 5 that day, I'm hoping that Jock Lindsey's is open by then so we can enjoy a drink.
Day #4: Magic Kingdom and MNSSHP. Halloween is by far my favorite holiday, so this should be a blast. We landed a lunch reservation at BOG this day. We're going to focus on Frontierland, Adventureland and Liberty Square this day.
Day #4: Magic Kingdom. This will be about Tomorrowland, Fantasyland and character meet-and-greets. We also landed dinner reservations at BOG that night. I'm interested to see how different BOG is between lunch and dinner. And on a sentimental note I'm taking a copy of a picture I have with Mickey on that first trip for a full-circle kind of moment.

That's all I've got for now! We can't book our FP+ till later in the month, so I'll be able to get more of a game plan after that. We've also already ordered some MagicBands because they seem to be a lot more convenient than digging out tickets all day. I'm also hoping that between the 2 of us we can stick to a $100 budget at the Food and Wine Festival. We'll see how that goes.

Any tips or advice for the Food and Wine Fest or MNSSHP for first-timers would be appreciated!

 

[ThemeQueen]

Hi there! We are going to be there at the exact same time and doing some of the same days! I am SO excited for the F&WF! My best friend is a pro and she has already been looking at menus and taking notes. Our plan of attack is to split up, with a meeting point, so that we don't spend a lot of time waiting for the same thing (we are sharers) and can cover more ground that way. Have you checked out the disney food blog? Good stuff!

 

[laufaeson]

I have! I'm patiently (well, I'm trying to be patient) waiting for menus for 2015, but all I can come across is 2014 menus. We're probably going to end up sharing a lot, too. But that tequila flight is all on him haha. Since it's his first trip, I'm really hoping we can actually make it around World Showcase and just eat as we go so he can see everything and we don't have to hop from pavilion to pavilion. Not sure how feasible that is, though. :-/

 

[ThemeQueen]

Disney posted menus already! https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/epcot/food-wine-marketplaces/

 

[laufaeson]

Disney posted menus already! https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/epcot/food-wine-marketplaces/

It would be entirely too easy for me to look there.

Thank youuuu! I know what I'm doing when I get home from work!

 

[MataHari22]

Ugh, I had blocked out that whole ruining the gorgeous Cinderalla Castle by making it look like a cake debacle. At least I was never there in person to see it. I always cry tears of happiness when I get to see the castle again, I'd've been crying tears, but they wouldn't have been happy ones. Lol.

Anyway, Food & Wine is great if you like to nibble your way around the world showcase. I love Halloween, it's my favorite holiday and I thought MNSSHP was great! The fireworks and the parade were outstanding. So do you have two days for the Magic Kingdom, you listed #4, twice. Or are you going the whole day at MK, using your MNSSHP ticket at night?

Following along, hope you have a great trip.

 

[laufaeson]

Ugh, I had blocked out that whole ruining the gorgeous Cinderalla Castle by making it look like a cake debacle. At least I was never there in person to see it. I always cry tears of happiness when I get to see the castle again, I'd've been crying tears, but they wouldn't have been happy ones. Lol.

Anyway, Food & Wine is great if you like to nibble your way around the world showcase. I love Halloween, it's my favorite holiday and I thought MNSSHP was great! The fireworks and the parade were outstanding. So do you have two days for the Magic Kingdom, you listed #4, twice. Or are you going the whole day at MK, using your MNSSHP ticket at night?

Following along, hope you have a great trip.

Oh, yea. Two days at MK. I guess you could call it 2/3 of a day plus MNSSHP, then we're going to take an extra day so we can get through everything we couldn't do on the first day. You really need 2 days to get through everything, regardless.

 

[MataHari22]

Oh, yea. Two days at MK. I guess you could call it 2/3 of a day plus MNSSHP, then we're going to take an extra day so we can get through everything we couldn't do on the first day. You really need 2 days to get through everything, regardless.

Definitely, MK has so much to enjoy. Now that I have to tour a little slower, I allow 2 days plus one MNSSHP, or I guess it will be MVMCP for me this year, to do most everything I want to do.

 

[laufaeson]

So I've begun the madness that is packing. I know, I know. I'm over a month away from leaving, but I went and did the math. I'm 38 days away from leaving and only 7 of them are going to be days where I don't work. Lots of overtime shifts coming my way and I'd rather not be scrambling to make sure everything is set the day before I leave. My fiance thinks I'm crazy going around and buying stuff like moleskin and fancy, moisture-wicking socks. Little does he know how much better it is to be prepared. First on the list is the in-park bag, meaning I've got to track down all the first-aid stuff we need. Since DF can be prone to motion sickness, I did a lot of research, with the help of this board, and I've gotten him the non-drowsy Walgreen's brand Dramamine. I'm hoping that will help keep him feeling well while we're going on the rides. I think the only one I'm really worried about at this point is Rock n Roller Coaster and Mad Tea Party. Since Primeval Whirl will be closed for refurbishment , it's a non-issue. But fingers are crossed the meds work.

I'm still awaiting our FastPass+ window to open, so there's still a lot of discussion about what we want to use our FastPasses on. We can also place our order for lunch at BOG in a couple of weeks, so we need to finalize our order for that. I'm only curious if it's really worth it, though. Considering we're going back for dinner the next day, we can really take the time to explore and take pictures then. So it seems like placing an order beforehand would really speed things up so that we can get back to the park.

 

[laufaeson]

Definitely, MK has so much to enjoy. Now that I have to tour a little slower, I allow 2 days plus one MNSSHP, or I guess it will be MVMCP for me this year, to do most everything I want to do.

Have fun at MVMCP! It looks like you're going before the crowds really pick up? One day I'll make it to that as well.

 

[MataHari22]

Thank you, I hope we will! I have always wanted to see MK all decorated for Xmas, from all the photos, it just looks like it will be even more magical. Yes, it looks like it will be one of the slower times, and then it gets busy with Thanksgiving a few days later. I'm used to going in October, when it's slower, so it looked like similar crowd levels, which is good, but I will get to see the Xmas decorations and Xmas entertainment. I always wanted to go for Xmas and NYE, but I just cannot deal with those crowds. Plus, it's more expensive to go. Also looking forward to seeing the Osborne Lights at HS for the first time.

I always pack early, too. I hate waiting until the last minute. I feel like I have a better chance of not forgetting things if I am not rushed.

Hope that the Dramamine works for him. I had to use it once, out on the ocean , when we were fishing on a little boat, but they gave me the kind that knocks you out, and I ended up falling asleep. I missed all the fun, but at least I wasn't getting sick anymore. Lol

I went to BOG for lunch last year, the food was ok, I just got the potato soup, and I forget if I got dessert or not. This year, I got an ADR for dinner. Have no clue what I am going to try and eat. I would say that it would be better to take photos and wander around on the day that you have your lunch. I think for dinner you are seated by the CMs and for lunch, I think you pick your own spot. Not sure how it is for dinner, but it was definitely "more relaxed" for lunch. Some very beautiful theming in there.

 

[laufaeson]

I went to BOG for lunch last year, the food was ok, I just got the potato soup, and I forget if I got dessert or not. This year, I got an ADR for dinner. Have no clue what I am going to try and eat. I would say that it would be better to take photos and wander around on the day that you have your lunch. I think for dinner you are seated by the CMs and for lunch, I think you pick your own spot. Not sure how it is for dinner, but it was definitely "more relaxed" for lunch. Some very beautiful theming in there.

Thanks for the tip! I definitely wanted to explore, but wasn't sure when it would have been better to do so!