Oct 2013 Surprise, Free Dining, Magic Band, FP+ testing, Birthday, Pop Century trip

[vleeth]

I just did it! I just booked our trip!

Where to begin....
Okay, I'm Valerie, my DH is Dave and our DD8 is Hope. Here is our pic fron our Disney Cruise last November.



My DH and DD both know we are going on this trip. But neither of them know we are not staying off site, but at Pop (our first time). They know about the Magic Bands and the FP+, but they also know its still in the testing phase. DH's bday is Oct 27th (check-in day.)

We're actually going to arrive the Thursday before, spend Friday at the SGIA show (sign stuff, we have a sign and t-shirt shop), spend Saturday at Universal Studios and then go to Mass. I need to figure out when in all of that I am going to tell them...or do I just drive up to the resort? After we leave Disney we will hit Islands of Adventure for a day or two before heading home.

 

[vleeth]

So now that I have our reservations at

I need to decide what room to request...
I need help from those who've been there before. I paid for a standard room. What are the best standard areas?


My dd loves

and we just finished reading

but I wouldn't mind the room being closer to the bus stop.

Suggestions???

 

[freckles04]

Hi there!! Sounds like a fun-filled trip! I thought about keeping our trip secret but I spilled the beans a LONG time ago.

Here is a map that shows where the different room categories are at Pop:

We stayed at Pop last year in a standard room. Our room was in the 50's section, farthest to the right on the map by the lake. We felt really far from everything! I would try to request something closer or even pay a little extra for a preferred room. That's just me, though!

Good luck!

 

[missangelalexis]

I'm here!

I stayed at Pop in January in a standard room and I got placed in the 70s section right on the lake (near the Mickey icon). I honestly loved it, I didn't feel like it was too far away from the main building, but it really depends on what you're looking for.

Can't wait to hear more!

 

[vleeth]

Welcome Freckles04 and thanks for that awesome map.

 

[vleeth]

Welcome to you too missangelalexis! I'm currently thinking about requesting 60's. I would get a lakeview (I think) and be close to the main pool and not too far from buses/food.

 

[vleeth]

I customized our Magic Bands, but it won’t let me reserve Fastpass Plus yet. I think I might be able to do that on Wednesday.
These are the current color choices



Here are our choices.

I told them about the Magic Bands and showed them pics this weekend to get their color choices (allowing them to believe I was asking for our next trip.) I’m glad I asked because they both surprised me with their color choices. I decided to use our actual names for the bands and not come up with anything clever. I would have wanted their input on that and I don’t want DH to catch on.

So for those of you who have been there, is 60's a good choice? I know we won't have a pool view, but I don't want a building without a pool in case its chilly. I know my DD8 will still swim and while the pools are heated, the walk back to the room isn't. And the other main thing would be close to breakfast/buses.

 

[wiigirl]

Following along.

 

[vleeth]

Following along.

Glad to have you!

 

[GrammyJudy]

We stayed at Pop twice and both times had preferred. Th first time were in 60s and the next time 70s. I definitely liked 60s better and we liked being by the pool.

 

[vleeth]

We stayed at Pop twice and both times had preferred. Th first time were in 60s and the next time 70s. I definitely liked 60s better and we liked being by the pool.

& thanks! I'm think I'll request 60s. Of course I have a couple of months to change my mind...again and again.

 

[vleeth]

I added two days to my reservation this morning and was able to reserve my Fastpass Plus choices.
This is what I started with.


This is what I ended up with after doing my touring plans and adjusting things.


I'm hoping at some point to be able to trade my Tower of Terror FP for a Fantasmic! one.

It’s strange and challenging to keep this from DH. I tell him everything. I really have to stop myself from saying things that will give it away.

I’m toying with the idea of making DD8 an appointment at the Barber Shop in Magic Kingdom. She got her first hair cut there and she got another on her 5th birthday.

After her first hair cut


She looks a little more like a girl in this pic


And her is her before pic at 5 years.

And her hair after.

 

[vleeth]

THE PLAN

Thursday is the day we are leaving home. I really have no idea at this point what time we will leave. The car rental place doesn't open until 7:30 (speaking of which, remind me to find a rental at a good rate.) Then once I get the car, I have to pack it. Of course the real issue is our business. I won't know until probably the week of if DH will need to work at all, work a couple hours or work half a day. The drive takes about 12 hours. We will then check in the Ramada Convention Center for one night. We have this as part of our Universal Package that allows us early entry to the WWOHP.

Friday we will go to the SGIA (signs) show for my DH and then check into Pop.

Saturday we will drive back across town to Universal Studios. This will be the first time there for all of us. I really see this as a half day park. We are a rope drop family so we will leave there in time to go to mass.

Sunday is DH's birthday and he has requested Magic Kingdom. It closes at 7:00 for the party, but it's a crowd level of 1.1.

Monday is DHS. We will try to get DD8 into Jedi Training. It will be so nice to be able to hit rnr and tot then try to get Jedi and still be able to ride tsm.

Tuesday is Epcot. We all enjoy World Showcase and DH and DD like Innoventions. This will be our first time at Food and Wine fest. DH loves to eat different things and really loves foreign beers. He does not know about F&W and I've decided to leave it as a birthday surprise.

Wednesday is where things get tricky. We are planning Blizzard Beach this day. If it looks like Saturday will be warmer, we will switch and do BB on Sat and US today. If it looks like tomorrow will be warmer, etc. So today is BB if weather permits. I also plan on doing laundry on this day.

Thursday is Halloween. I made a deal with DD8 that we would go to Boo at the Zoo the weekend before our trip so she could trick or treat. I've heard that Pop does some activities and will be go to that, but I don't know if they give out candy. At any rate, I found out yesterday we get Disney Quest and Mini Golf vouchers with our package, so we will probably use these on this day.

Friday is IOA. I've been there twice and DH once. This will be DD8 first trip and DH and my first time to WWOHP. We are all big HP fans. DD read the first 3 books and I'm reading some of the other books to her...some of it is just to dark for my 8yo.

Saturday we will swim and use the last of our credits before heading back home.


I'd like to keep track of how much we would have spent in food, to see how much I saved with free dining.


I think I need Disney rehab. I just added 2 more days. So we will be there a total of 8 nights. Now I need to pay for it.

So should I think up a way to reveal the surprise of Pop to DH and DD before we leave, at the first hotel, or just drive up and check-in?

 

[missangelalexis]

Sounds like a good plan!! And it looks like you picked some great things with FP+!

 

[vleeth]

Sounds like a good plan!! And it looks like you picked some great things with FP+!

Thanks! I love planning. I'm excited to see fp+ and the mb in action.

 

[vleeth]

It's my 1500 post!

 

[vleeth]

Not much to update. I have Dave working on some shirts for this trip. This is one we made last year that we wore on our Disney Cruise.



We are also working on Halloween magnets for our door. These are the ones we made for our cruise (it was the week after Thanksgiving.)



I’m going to be so excited to see this



I was less than thrilled at the Halloween décor on our trip four years ago. It was early September and I just wasn’t ready for Halloween. This trip will be a whole different story.

 

[vleeth]

Dave said he thinks we should leave Thursday morning. Yay! Once I have my rental car and I know what time they open, I will be able to figure out what time I am picking up the car and what time I plan to leave. Enterprise is closest, they open at 7:30. So if I pick my car up at 8:00, we should be on the road for 9:00 (central time.) That puts us getting to Orlando at around 9:00PM. That’s just enough time to check-in at the Ramada and go to bed.
Hope seems to get sick on every vacation, so I’m determined that she get enough sleep this trip to help keep that from happening again. Not sure where we will eat on the drive, but it’ll be fast food. And we eat in the car. I have started to stock up on snacks for in the car. Hope is learning the states. Hopefully by the trip, she’ll know where most of them are. I will print out a blank US map and we will color in the states when we see the license plates. She will also spend hours watching dvds and playing on her nabi (kid tablet.) Her screen time is restricted at home, so it’s almost like these are new movies and games to her. I’m sure we’ll come up with some other things to keep her entertained in the car. Any fun car things that don't take up too much space?
I think I may tell Dave about us staying at



after we put Hope to sleep at the Ramada. That’s only if he doesn’t find out ahead of time. He has yet to ask me where we’re staying and he may not ever ask. But if he does, I may tell him.
Friday morning, we will eat our complimentary breakfast at the hotel before checking out and heading to the convention center for the SGIA show. Dave tells me that he thinks it will take 4 hours to complete the show. He’s slower than he realizes so I think we’ll have to hurry him along if he’s going to visit all of the vendors that quickly. At any rate, I can get through the show in about half the time it takes him. If I had to guess, I’d say that by this point, Hope will be begging to leave. I’m considering telling her about Pop while towards the end of the time we will be at the SGIA show to give her something to do. I plan to wrap the magicbands and mickey mail and give it to her as a gift.
When we’re finally done, we’ll head to



After check-in we’ll probably hit



And then



We may swing by the Poly



to watch Hallowishes,



if I can get Hope out of the pool.


Saturday is Blizzard Beach, so we don't have to get up early.

 

[mainemooncat]

Following along with you because there are some eerie coincidences between your family and mine! We are going NEXT October (2014), my DD will be 8 (also a blonde), it is also a surprise and we will be staying at Pop as well! Love your pictures in your descriptions. You must be so excited that you are this close!

 

[vleeth]

Following along with you because there are some eerie coincidences between your family and mine! We are going NEXT October (2014), my DD will be 8 (also a blonde), it is also a surprise and we will be staying at Pop as well! Love your pictures in your descriptions. You must be so excited that you are this close!

It's a Small World! I am getting excited. It's just about time for me to start packing.