OH BOY!!*My 1st PTR for our 1st ever WDW trip JUNE 2011* 6/14: Started my TR.

[mrssmith06]

Yay, so here we go!!! Welcome to my PTR!!! I am extremely excited about our Disney trip. Neither me or my husband or our kids have EVER been to WDW so this is a first for all of us! I've been waiting a long time for this!

Who we are: I am a 28 year old mother of 3 and Realtor. My husband is 31 (will turn 32 before trip) and works with the phone company. Our kids: DD, 7, 1st grader and the princess... and our DS, 3 (will turn 4 before trip), preschooler and mommy's sweet boy! I also have a DSS who is 12 but will not be able to go with us this trip. We are hoping to bring him along on our next Disney trip for sure though!!

When and where we plan to stay: June 8th-12th. 5 days/4 nights. All Star Movies Resort, preferred room.

How we plan to get there: Drive! 10+ hours on the road, Oh yeah.

THE PLAN.......And yes I am a heavy planner, I love planning! I have it ALL down! (I think ) Any tips or advice is welcome! We have the MYW package with 3 days of park tickets with park hopper. So since we only have 3 days of tickets we will not do water parks this time...and one day will have to be a 2 park day. 1 day each devoted to MK and Epcot and then the last day split between AK and HS. Hopefully this will work ok, even if we will miss out on a lot I think we can still make it great!

Our Walt Disney World Vacation 2011 UPDATED 04/07!

(eta: most of these "times" are totally just for estimate, I don't want to over plan! And I've made notes of certain attractions we hope to do, though I know, sadly, we won't have time to do it all.)
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Day 1 - Wednesday June 8th: Arrival Day!
2:15a - Wake up, get ready, finished packing the car!
3:00a (CENTRAL TIME) - Leave home, head for Orlando, FL! Yay!
7:00a (CENTRAL) - Stop for gas & eat a quick breakfast in the car.
11:30a (EASTERN) - Stop for lunch and gas.
2:15p (EASTERN) - Arrive @ Disney!!!
6:00p - Dinner @ the Food Court in the hotel!?
7:00p - Check out the arcade if there's time or go for a night swim.
(OR... head over to Downtown Disney for dinner (maybe at WPexpress!?))
9:00p - Get some sleep!
***Order Anniversary cake @ Planet Hollywood for Friday night: Specialty celebration cakes are available for an additional charge and should be ordered 48 hours in advance by calling (407) 827-2253.
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Day 2 - Thursday June 9th: MK Day!
6:00a - Wake up, get ready!
7:35a reservation - Character Breakfast @ Chef Mickey's!
9:00a - Magic Kingdom opens! Head to the park right after breakfast! EMH=8-9am!
----> Tomorrowland: *Buzz Lightyear ride, Monsters, Inc laugh floor, *Stitch's Great Escape
----> Fantasyland: Cinderella's Castle, *Peter Pan's Flight, *Winnie the Pooh, Dumbo, Mad Tea Party cups, It's a Small World, Rapunzel show, Mickey's Phillarmagic show
1:05p reservation - Character lunch @ Crystal Palace!
----> Liberty Square: Hall of Presidents
----> Frontierland: Country Bear Jamboree, Tom Sawyer Island

***OPTION 1: (if it's not too hot and kids are doing ok)
2:30p - Find a spot to watch the parade!
3:00p - Celebrate A Dream Come True Parade!
----> Adventureland: *Jungle Cruise, Magic Carpet of Aladdin, Pirate's of the Carribean
----> (If we have time) Head back to Main Street U.S.A to ride the railroad & meet Mickey and Minnie in Town Hall.
6:00p - Grab dinner at a QS place?... or head back to the hotel right away and eat at the Food Court!
***If kids are still doing OK and want to say for the fireworks, then we will stay for the 9pm parade and 10pm fireworks, then go back to hotel, if not then:
8:00p - Take a night swim in the pool or check out the hotel's arcade.
9:30p - Sleep!

***OPTION 2: (if it's getting too hot and kids are worn out & don't want to stay for the 3pm parade...)
2:30p - Drive back to the hotel, rest up, cool off, and swim.
5:30p - Go back to the MK, finish up rides like in Adventureland, see Main Street and have dinner at a QS place.
9:00p - Main Street Electrical light Parade!
10:00p - Wishes Fireworks!
10:30p - Back to hotel and sleep!
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Day 3 - Friday June 10th: Epcot/DTD day!
Happy 5th Anniversary to us!!! <3
6:30a - get up, ready and eat breakfast!
8:00a - Epcot opens! EMH!
----> Check out Spaceship Earth (Skip Innoventions, do those later?)
Future World:
----> The Seas: Nemo & Friends! Turtle Talk with Crush, Coral Reef.
----> The Land: *Soarin', Living with the Land boat ride, The Circle of Life film.
----> Imagination: Pyamids, *Captian EO, Journey Into Imagination with Figment, ImageWorks.
----> Start walking the World Showcase, visiting all of the many countries!(World Showcase opens at 11 a.m.)
12:30p - Grab lunch in whatever country we wish... or just eat here and there, sampling a little bit of everything!
World Showcase:
----> Canada, United Kingdom, France, Morocco, Japan, The American Adventure, Italy, Germany, China, Norway, Mexico.
----> (If time allows) Check out the Test Track, *Mission: Space & Universe of Energy show (show is about 45 min) and/or go back to Innoventions and maybe the Showcase Plaza.
4:00p - Go to Downtown Disney!
5:15p reservation - Dinner @ Planet Hollywood! (use coupon!) Make sure we get our anniversary cake!
7:00p - Walk around Downtown Disney, then head back to Epcot!
9:00p - Illuminations!
9:45p - Back to hotel, Sleep!
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Day 4 - Saturday June 11th: AK/HS day!
6:30a - Eat Breakfast @ hotel?
7:00a - drive to AK.
8:00a - Animal Kingdom opens! EMH!
----> The Oasis
----> Africa: *Kilimanjaro Safaris, Rafiki's Planet Watch.
----> Camp Minnie-Mickey: Greeting Trails (get autographs!), Festival of the Lion King.
----> Discovery Island: The Tree of Life, It's Tough to be a Bug (if time).
----> DinoLand U.S.A: The Boneyard, Triceratop Spin, Finding Nemo-The Musical.
----> Asia: *Kali River Rapids, Flights of Wonder
12:15p reservation - Lunch @ Rainforest Cafe!
1:30p - drive to Hollywood Studios!
----> Pixar Place: *Toy Story Mania, Disney Junior-Live on stage, *The Voyage of the Little Mermaid
3:00p - Block Party Parade (skip if needed)
----> Sunset Blvd: Playhouse Disney-Live on Stage!, Beauty and The Beast-Live on Stage!
----> Streets of America: Honey I Shrunk the Kids Adv, Muppet 3D, Lights, Motors, Action show
6:30p - Grab dinner @ Toy Story Pizza Planet! (Located near the Muppets)
----> (If time allows) Catch the Lights, Motors, Action Extreme Stunt Show!?
(If the kids are tired, go back to hotel after dinner & skip Fantasmic).
9:00p - Fantasmic!
9:30p - get back to our hotel and start packing our bags!
10:30p - Sleep!
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Day 5 - Sunday June 12th: Departure day...
6:30a - Wake up, get ready, make sure everything is packed!
7:30a - Go to the Polynesian Resort!
8:40a reservation - Character Breakfast @ 'Ohana!
10:00a - Go back to hotel, get bags into car and check out.(Or go ahead and check out before breakfast...?)
10:45a (EASTERN) - Leave Disney, head back to Alabama
3:00p - Stop for lunch/dinner and gas.
10:00p (CENTRAL) - Arrive back home!

(*FASTPASS)
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LINKS:

BADGES FOR THE KIDS
Pictures of US!
Character Homework/Movie Nights.
Changed ADR.
Meal Deal & 1st PIN
Disney Store Purchase
TIP ENVELOPES
Getting Closer & planning trip #2 already?!?
Can I keep my mouth shut?!?!
More goodies...!
ADR INVITATIONS!
Plans for Day 1...Details! Arrival/DTD!
Let's talk about Day 2! MK day!
What we need to pack for Disney.
"Welcome" surprise plushes ordered!
Day 3 Details! Epcot/DTD!
Added an ADR to Day 2..!
Disney Music CD for the car ride!
Day 4, AK/HS day...and Day 5, Departure Day... Plans!
Planning Journal Pics....Part 1
Planning Journal Pics...Part 2
Passport decisions & pics of some finished items.
Surprise "Welcome" plushes are in! I love them!
Pressed Penny Boxes!
Happy Easter!
Epcot Passports done!
Some things made for the scavenger hunt
Mickey Mail is here!!!!
New things.
Travel/Arrival day changes!
DS 4th birthday party!
2 weeks!!!
10 days: Online check-in!
1 week, Yay!
5 days! And a backpack issue!
WOOHOO! 3 days!!!
Video: Surprised kids!
On our way!!!
We are back!!!
Started my TR!

 

[mrssmith06]

I must also add that SURPRISE.... We are not telling the kids until the night before we leave!!!! I plan to do a scavenger hunt with them that night and let the clues lead them up to the big surprise. I'm thinking of buying them some new suitcases to take and having those at the end of the scavenger hunt with a note that says "Pack your bags! We are going to Disney World!" What do you think??? I've already began purchasing some small trinkets to use in the hunt for them them to find!

 

[mrssmith06]

I have made the kids some "If I'm lost" badges as well... I bought a $1 pack of clear badge sleeves and printed a picture of minnie for DD and mickey for DS and put our cellphone numbers on the back, just incase they were to get lost at Disney!!! I will safety pin them on their clothes.
Front:

Back:

 

[mrssmith06]

100 days to go!!!!v

 

[mrssmith06]

And finally....some pics of us!
Here are 4 of us last year, in Florida...

The little ones on Christmas Eve...

Also.... I am beginning to rethink my idea to surprise them. I still want to do the scavenger hunt... just not sure if I can wait until THAT night to get their bags packed!!! I'm sure I will want to have everything packed way before then... so maybe I should have their luggage already packed and instead say "Your bag is packed, Your going to Disney World!" ???

 

[southern_redhead]

Hi! I followed you over from my PTR. Wow, you've done a lot of planning! I haven't nailed down parks yet. I better get crackin'...you're leaving me in dust!!

 

[mrssmith06]

Hi, thanks for coming over to my PTR!
Yes I got most of my planning done as soon as we booked! If I could, I would be packing my bags already!! I can't wait!!!

 

[mtgirl29]

I am on board!!!! We are going the week before and staying at CBR.
Happy planning and cannot wait to read more.

 

[mrssmith06]

I am on board!!!! We are going the week before and staying at CBR.
Happy planning and cannot wait to read more.

Thank you! I will go check out your PTR as well!

 

[JLR]

Yay, so here we go!!! Welcome to my PTR!!! I am extremely excited about our Disney trip. Neither me or my husband or our kids have EVER been to WDW so this is a first for all of us! I've been waiting a long time for this!

Who we are: My name is Melissa. I am a 28 year old mother of 3 and Realtor. My husband, Bryan, is 31 (will turn 32 before trip) and works with the phone company. Our kids are Mikaela, 7, 1st grader and the princess... and Dylan, 3 (will turn 4 before trip), preschooler and mommy's sweet boy! I also have a DSS who is 12 but will not be able to go with us this trip. We are hoping to bring him along on our next Disney trip for sure though!!

When and where we plan to stay: June 8th-12th. 5 days/4 nights. All Star Movies Resort, preferred room.

How we plan to get there: Drive! 10+ hours on the road, Oh yeah.

THE PLAN.......And yes I am a heavy planner, I love planning! I have it ALL down! (I think ) Any tips or advice is welcome! We have the MYW package with 3 days of park tickets with park hopper. So since we only have 3 days of tickets we will not do water parks this time...and one day will have to be a 2 park day. 1 day each devoted to MK and Epcot and then the last day split between AK and HS. Hopefully this will work ok, even if we will miss out on a lot I think we can still make it great!

Our Walt Disney World Vacation 2011



Day 1 - Wednesday June 8th:
2:15a - Wake up, get ready, finished packing the car!
3:00a (CENTRAL TIME) - Leave home, head for Orlando, FL! Yay!
7:00a (CENTRAL) - Stop for gas (around Eufaula, AL?), and eat a quick breakfast in the car.
11:30a (EASTERN) - Stop for lunch and gas. (Around Lake City, FL?)
2:15p (EASTERN) - Arrive @ Disney and check in, unpack! (Room may not be ready until 4pm, which is regular check-in time)
3:00p - Take a look around the hotel
6:00p - Dinner @ the Food Court in the hotel!
7:00p - Check out the arcade if there's time or go for a night swim.
(OR head over to Downtown Disney for dinner and fun!?)
9:30p - Get some sleep!
***Order Anniversary cake @ Planet Hollywood for Friday night: Specialty celebration cakes are available for an additional charge and should be ordered 48 hours in advance by calling (407) 827-2253.



Day 2 - Thursday June 9th:
6:00a - Wake up, get ready!
6:50a - Leave hotel, drive to the Magic Kingdom.
7:35a reservation - Character Breakfast @ Chef Mickey's!
9:00a - Magic Kingdom opens! Head to the park right after breakfast! EMH=8-9am!
----> Tomorrowland: *Buzz Lightyear ride
----> Fantasyland: Cinderella's Castle, *Peter Pan's Flight, *Winnie the Pooh, Dumbo, Mad Tea Party cups, It's a Small World....
12:30p - Grab lunch at a quick service place (like Pinocchio Village Haus-in Fantasyland)!
----> Liberty Square: Hall of Presidents
----> Frontierland: Country Bear Jamboree, Tom Sawyer Island


***OPTION 1: (if it's not too hot and kids are doing ok)
2:30p - Find a spot to watch the parade!
3:00p - Celebrate A Dream Come True Parade!
----> Adventureland: *Jungle Cruise, Magic Carpet of Aladdin, Pirate's of the Carribean
----> (If we have time) Head back to Main Street U.S.A to ride the railroad & meet Mickey and Minnie in Town Hall.
6:00p - Grab dinner at a Quick Service place... or head back to the hotel right away and eat at the Food Court!
***If kids are still doing OK and want to say for the fireworks, then we will stay for the 9pm parade and 10pm fireworks, then go back to hotel, if not then:
8:00p - Take a night swim in the pool or check out the hotel's arcade.
9:30p - Sleep!
***OPTION 2: (if it's getting too hot and kids are worn out & don't want to stay for the 3pm parade...)
2:30p - Drive back to the hotel, rest up, cool off, and swim.
5:30p - Go back to the MK (take bus?), finish up rides like in Adventureland and see Main Street. Have dinner at a quick service place.
9:00p - Main Street Electrical light Parade!
10:00p - Wishes Fireworks!
10:30p - Back to hotel and sleep!


Day 3 - Friday June 10th:
Happy 5th Anniversary to us!!! <3
6:45a - Wake up, get ready!
7:30a - Eat Breakfast @ hotel.
8:00a - Head to the bus stop and catch a ride!
9:00a - Epcot opens! (EMH=8-9am...bump the schedule an hour if possible & arrive at 8, which means be on the bus at 7am & wake up by 6am!)
----> Check out Spaceship Earth (Skip Innoventions, do those later?)
Future World:
----> The Seas: Nemo & Friends! Turtle Talk with Crush, Coral Reef.
----> The Land: Living with the Land boat ride, The Circle of Life film.
----> Imagination: Pyamids, *Captian EO, Journey Into Imagination with Figment, ImageWorks.
----> Start walking the World Showcase, visiting all of the many countries!(World Showcase opens at 11 a.m.)
12:30p - Grab lunch in whatever country we wish... or just eat here and there, sampling a little bit of everything!
World Showcase:
----> Canada, United Kingdom, France, Morocco, Japan, The American Adventure, Italy, Germany, China, Norway, Mexico.
----> (If time allows) Check out the Test Track, *Mission: Space & Universe of Energy show (show is about 45 min) and/or go back to Innoventions and maybe the Showcase Plaza.
4:00p - Catch a bus to Downtown Disney West!
5:15p reservation - Dinner @ Planet Hollywood! (use coupon!) Make sure we get our anniversary cake!
7:00p - Check out shops in Downtown Disney (Everything stays open until 11:30p-12midnight)
9:00p - Back to the hotel!
9:45p - Sleep!



Day 4 - Saturday June 11th:
6:45a - Wake up, get ready!
7:30a - Eat Breakfast @ hotel.
8:00a - Head to the bus stop and catch a ride!
9:00a - Animal Kingdom opens! (EMH=8-9am, so maybe bump the schedule up and hour and arrive at 8, be on bus by 7, wake up by 6!)
----> The Oasis
----> Discovery Island: The Tree of Life
----> Camp Minnie-Mickey: Greeting Trails, Festival of the Lion King.
----> DinoLand U.S.A: The Boneyard, Triceratop Spin, Finding Nemo-The Musical.
----> Asia
----> Africa
12:55p - Make our way back to the front entrance for lunch!
1:15p reservation - Lunch @ Rainforest Cafe!
2:30p - Catch a bus to Hollywood Studios!
----> *Toy Story Mania (may need to get a fastpass and come back!)
3:00p - Block Party Parade (skip if needed)
----> Playhouse Disney-Live on Stage!, *The Voyage of the Little Mermaid, The Magic of Disney Animation, Beauty and The Beast-Live on Stage!
6:30p - Grab dinner @ Toy Story Pizza Planet! (Located near the Muppets)
----> (If time allows) Catch the Lights, Motors, Action Extreme Stunt Show!?
(If the kids are tired, go back to hotel after dinner & skip Fantasmic).
9:00p - Fantasmic!
9:30p - Catch a bus back to our hotel and start packing our bags!
10:30p - Sleep!



Day 5 - Sunday June 12th:
6:30a - Wake up, get ready, make sure everything is packed!
7:30a - Take a bus to the Polynesian Resort!
8:40a reservation - Character Breakfast @ 'Ohana!
10:00a - Go back to hotel, get bags into car and check out.(Or go ahead and check out before breakfast...?)
10:45a (EASTERN) - Leave Disney, head back to Alabama
3:00p - Stop for lunch/dinner and gas in Georgia.
10:00p (CENTRAL) - Arrive back home, get some rest!

*FASTPASS
​

Wow,

Sounds like a great trip! You have a nice looking family!

Do you mind if I make some suggestions?

1. Only do EMH if you can be there when EMH starts. If your kids are early birds, then great, go and enjoy! If you believe you will get there 30 to 45 minutes into EMH you may not be as happy.

2. DHS: if you leave AK at 2:30 there is no direct park to park bus, you will need to transfer at a resort or the TTC so it is likely it will take an hour or more to get to DHS and in the door - so you'll definitely miss the parade. Also it is almost assured that the FPs will be GONE by 3:30 pm on a Star Wars Weekend day and a Fantasmic night. DHS will be absolutely MOBBED!!!!! It is likely that all FPs for TSMM will be gone before 12 noon and wait times will be over an hour. Now, if you love star wars and want to see the ambiance, and can resign yourself to Playhouse Disney-Live on Stage!, *The Voyage of the Little Mermaid, The Magic of Disney Animation, Beauty and The Beast-Live on Stage! you should be OK you could probably add muppets too. If Fantasmic is only showing once that night you may want to plan to be on line 60 -75 minutes before the show starts (please see Robo's post about this, it is the best!)

3. You won't be able to do everything or even half. Breathe, relax. It is more important you enjoy what you do. Make sure you prioritize your days and follow some sort of plan (whether easywdw.com (free), touringplans.com (or the book The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World), or TourGuide Mike) to help you do rides that develop long lines first before there are lines, you can do a lot more and be much less frazzled.

4. Do you have reservations for your meals?


I hope this didn't come across as critical, because I didn't mean it that way: I was a newbie too last year! I didn't want you to be horribly shocked when you found you couldn't do what you wanted.

If you like - you can post your itinerary on the Parks board and see what others think. It is possible to move ADRs at this point. I just had to redo all of mine when we added another person to our trip.

Best wishes.

 

[3pletprincesses]

What about having them find the bags already packed LOL

 

[mrssmith06]

Wow,

Sounds like a great trip! You have a nice looking family!

Do you mind if I make some suggestions?

1. Only do EMH if you can be there when EMH starts. If your kids are early birds, then great, go and enjoy! If you believe you will get there 30 to 45 minutes into EMH you may not be as happy.

Yeah, I've considered this. I'm trying to make it flexible for the mornings so that if they are tired, I'll just let them sleep but if they are good with getting up early, we will go for the EMH Except for our MK day, I know with our Chef Mickey's ADR we won't make the EMH that day!

2. DHS: if you leave AK at 2:30 there is no direct park to park bus, you will need to transfer at a resort or the TTC so it is likely it will take an hour or more to get to DHS and in the door - so you'll definitely miss the parade. Also it is almost assured that the FPs will be GONE by 3:30 pm on a Star Wars Weekend day and a Fantasmic night. DHS will be absolutely MOBBED!!!!! It is likely that all FPs for TSMM will be gone before 12 noon and wait times will be over an hour. Now, if you love star wars and want to see the ambiance, and can resign yourself to Playhouse Disney-Live on Stage!, *The Voyage of the Little Mermaid, The Magic of Disney Animation, Beauty and The Beast-Live on Stage! you should be OK you could probably add muppets too. If Fantasmic is only showing once that night you may want to plan to be on line 60 -75 minutes before the show starts (please see Robo's post about this, it is the best!)

Ack! I think I remember reading now that there was no park to park bus. Thank you for that.. I need to adjust my plans. I didn't know they only gave out so many fast passes per day... I thought you were personally limited to a certain # of FP a day?!?! My DS is obsessed with Toy Story, so even if there is an hour wait, we might have to do it! No, we are not star wars fans... lol... We may end up skipping Fantasmic but I will look for that post for just in case info!

ETA: I'm now doing research on fast passes, apparently I haven't read enough on them lol... where is this post of Robo's?? If you could link it for me I would appreciate it. I can't find it

3. You won't be able to do everything or even half. Breathe, relax. It is more important you enjoy what you do. Make sure you prioritize your days and follow some sort of plan (whether easywdw.com (free), touringplans.com (or the book The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World), or TourGuide Mike) to help you do rides that develop long lines first before there are lines, you can do a lot more and be much less frazzled.

Oh I know we can't do it all! I don't have it all listed, I made notes on my plans of the things that I hope to do if possible, the things that the kids would most likely enjoy. I have the Birnbaum guides but I need to check out the others! I want to have somewhat have a schedule going though for sure, just to lessen the chance of chaos!

4. Do you have reservations for your meals?

Yes, I've made my ADR's for some meals. The rest of the meals will be quick service.

I hope this didn't come across as critical, because I didn't mean it that way: I was a newbie too last year! I didn't want you to be horribly shocked when you found you couldn't do what you wanted.

If you like - you can post your itinerary on the Parks board and see what others think. It is possible to move ADRs at this point. I just had to redo all of mine when we added another person to our trip.

Best wishes.

Oh no, it's OK!! I'm looking for tips and advice, critical or not! I expect some criticism being a newbie and all... I made out my plans before I ever even found the DIS!!

 

[mrssmith06]

What about having them find the bags already packed LOL

Yep, that's what occured to me by post # 5:

Also.... I am beginning to rethink my idea to surprise them. I still want to do the scavenger hunt... just not sure if I can wait until THAT night to get their bags packed!!! I'm sure I will want to have everything packed way before then... so maybe I should have their luggage already packed and instead say "Your bag is packed, Your going to Disney World!" ???

I think that's what I'm going to do, just have them already packed!!!

 

[britt_ji]

Congratulations on your first trip! Your plans sound great so far. I am an intense planner, as well! Can't wait to read more.

 

[mrssmith06]

Congratulations on your first trip! Your plans sound great so far. I am an intense planner, as well! Can't wait to read more.

Hello and welcome!

 

[mrssmith06]

98 days to go, woohoo!

I realized after booking this trip that there are SO many of the classic Disney movies that my kids have not seen yet. So I felt that we needed to do some "homework" on Disney characters so they will be familiar with them before we go!!
Last night was our first Disney movie night and we watched BAMBI (Yay for that purchase with the $10 coupon yesterday!!!). The kids loved it, of course!
The next few on our list are: Beauty and The Beast, Pinocchio, Snow White, Aladdin and Peter Pan.

 

[britt_ji]

Having Disney movie nights is such a great idea! Even though the trip will be a surprise, I'm sure the kids will love seeing all the new characters they've learned about in the parks

 

[3princesses+aprince]

Hello! Joining in on your fun! Your kids are adorabl. I've always wanted to surprise my kids, but they're a little older than yours and I LOVE planning with them. We took our first onsite trip in May of 2009. We are planning on going next June/July 2012.We'll celebrate birthdays and an anniversary. Soooo, I figured i'd start reading PTRs now and follow everyone's June TRs this summer.

When we went I had realized too that my kids hadn't seen all the disney movies either, so we did the same thing and made sure they saw everything they'd need to see and would know who all the characters were when we got there.

I also have a stepson, who most likely will not be coming along with us next year either. It will be up to him, but he'll be almost 16 by then, soooo, he'd of course rather hang out with his friends. He did come with us last trip, so at least he got to go.

 

[mrssmith06]

Hello! Joining in on your fun! Your kids are adorabl. I've always wanted to surprise my kids, but they're a little older than yours and I LOVE planning with them. We took our first onsite trip in May of 2009. We are planning on going next June/July 2012.We'll celebrate birthdays and an anniversary. Soooo, I figured i'd start reading PTRs now and follow everyone's June TRs this summer.

When we went I had realized too that my kids hadn't seen all the disney movies either, so we did the same thing and made sure they saw everything they'd need to see and would know who all the characters were when we got there.

I also have a stepson, who most likely will not be coming along with us next year either. It will be up to him, but he'll be almost 16 by then, soooo, he'd of course rather hang out with his friends. He did come with us last trip, so at least he got to go.

Hi and !! I wanted to tell my kids a little bit earlier but since my DSS is unable to go, I'd rather not bring it up to anyone until right before we are going... plus the fact that my kids would probably drive me NUTS until that day... "how much longer? when are we going? I don't want to wait!" Maybe whenever I plan our next trip (Praying there will be a next!!!), then they can all help me plan that one, I'd love that.

 

[mrssmith06]

Ok....So please someone help me on the bus schedules!! I am so confused. I've been pouring over 100s of posts and websites trying to figure out how to get from place to place.

My questions:
Buses DO run directly from park to park, right?!? Just NOT from resort to resort?? Like... I can go directly on a bus from AK to HS... or not? A previous post says that there will be no direct bus if I go from AK to HS at 2:30pm, so I'm confused now. Please forgive me!
And what about going from Epcot to DTD? Will I have to transfer buses at a resort? And if so, would it be worth the time to maybe go via bus to POR and then take the relaxing boat ride to DTD?
Also... We have an ADR at Chef Mickey's at 7:35a... Will I be able to catch a bus early enough to make it there or would we be better off driving?

Thanks in advance for any help! I keep reading different things from different people and it's all confusing me.

ETA: Nevermind on this, Got help from the Transportation board! They rock!