On the Travel Channel Now

[Master Gracie]

I thought you did a fabulous job Ericka!

Seeing a new show about WDW really got my wife and I in the mood. To go back again that is...hehe.

Concerning the appropriate time to arise in the morning when at WDW, it's true that everyone has a different schedule. That being said, my wife is the hardest person to get up in the world. She regularly snoozes 4 or 5 times every morning. I love her of course, but this kills me. Now, when we are in WDW, she is a totally different person and we must be at whichever park we are visiting that day when the gates open. I suppose it's better for her to want to get up early in WDW and sleep late all other times than the other way around.

 

[ryley26]

erika thanks for the update My dw and i were freaking about the plan. I said i hope you were coerced by the film crew. One question were you given ride preferences or extra fastpasses. Some of the time they showed seemed like you would be in line 45min to an hour if you were to try to ride at that time.

 

[Kae]

I thought it was a great show. I was just suprised that they did not show a Moderate Hotel. Ericka did you pick your hotel?

Kae

 

[ErinInCT]

Erika - you are a goddess!!
The Lloyds - you are my planning heros!!

EPCOT couple - how weird was it that the cameras were in the bedroom when the alarm went off? Obviously staged!
Plus how the heck could they get on TT so fast if they got to the park as late as they did?

Erika - Out of curiousity - did you have the trip already planned or did they call you & tell you you were going to WDW in a week? How did you get the ps for CRT? Did they do this for you? Did they pay for your whole trip? Wait, you did a Grand Celebration right? Did they handle this for you? Sorry to be so nosy, I was just wondering how much you did yourself & how much was set up for you.
Also, You must be a great mom because your kids were VERY well behaved!

I just LOVED the show! Now I am even more excited for our Sept trip!

 

[Doctor Tigger]

I thought the show was fun, I get excited whenever I see that there's a Disney show on any channel. Erika I thought you guys were great and your children were adorable!!! Way to represent us Lafayette, IN people. I was so excited when I heard you say that you were from West Lafayette as we are to

Great Job

 

[HenDuck]

Erika! You and your family were great! I think most of us here just like to put in our two cents about how we "do" Disney, but of course, no disrespect is intended. I figured that the producers probably interjected their needs in each segment.

I for one enjoyed all the segments. I especially loved seeing those things that I have not experienced yet, like CRT and Hoop De do!

It was great to see the parks, and since we won't be going to WDW for probably another 4 years, it really got me excited to do more research!

Thanks to all the families who were on the show.

Did you get any "perks" for doing the show?

Thanks again!

 

[SoCalKDG]

Was this a one time thing or will the travel channel make this a monthly series? Glad I taped it, although my wife is starting to get tired of all the Disney shows I keep taping.

 

[trish1970]

You and your family were adorable!!! Good job!
I am curious .... when were you there filming?

 

[cooldisneymom]

Hi Ericka!!!! WE knew that YOU knew what you were doing!!!!! Your family was wonderful and made us DIS'ers proud!!!

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Jo Poe... we started our day at about 5:00 am!!!! Definitely not the norm for our group. LOL

Southgal.... I actually told them all those insider tips and wrote down all the website addresses, etc, but none of it made it's way into the show. I guess it was a good thing!!!

ryley 26....... I can't give away that top secret info! But I can tell you that we did use fastpasses that day... those scenes just got cut out.

Kae.... No, we didn't get to pick our hotel. I have to admit I was VERY jealous not to get a deluxe resort like the other groups, but we switched over to the BWV's after we finished our filming for the rest of our trip.

trish1970.... We filmed April 1st and 2nd. We saw the couple filming on March 31st and the three friends on April 3rd. Not sure when the AK family filmed.

ErinInCT........ We had about 10 days from the time we found out until the day we left. The Cindy's breakfast, Hoop Dee Doo, and Fireworks cruise were already set so I don't know how far in advance the producers booked those. And yes they paid for everything.

Doctor Tigger!!! Hello Neighbor!!!!! I can't believe how many Lafayette and West Lafayette people have come out of the woodwork today.

SocalKDG........ I'm up for a series!!! Everyone here on the DIS please feel free to email the Travel Channel and suggest that!

Keep the questions coming... I don't mind answering anything you want to know.

 

[Esmerelda]

The entire show was great and I enjoyed watching all the familiies. I have to admit though...we are never up and at them until 9am or so. My boys would CROAK if they have to get up early for anything even on vacation...LOL I always get the LAST PS for any breakfasts that we do (usually its 11:20am) so we can get up at a leisurely pace to hit the parks.

Its pretty sad when the 40+ yr old mom is pacing the floor, and dressed...just WAITING for the phone to ring!!! I'm always up much earlier then them just out of pure EXcitement..!!!

We just always go with the attitude that we won't see and do everything...but that just makes for another trip!


great show guys!!
Esmerelda

 

[Dave Dizney]

OK -- I've been lurking here on and off, and spending way too much time on other boards. But, I can see that the mood here is MUCH more friendly than the other unnamed boards I've been on -- so here goes.

I'm David Lloyd -- the other guy on the Travel Channel special with the teenage kids. Great to finally meet you, Erica! We never got to see you because you left before we came (we were there the week before Easter -- BTW -- one tip left out was never come the week before Easter). I felt SO BAD that they chose to highlight Pop Century with your family!!! But at least they got you to Hoop De Doo!

Our experience was absolutely awesome -- but I would agree, they kept the best secrets on the editing floor. Remember, the demographics are much more in favor of novices than Disney geeks like us, and Lightship and Disney was trying to reach the largest market share.

Many, many funny stories of our trip, but as we were leaving, we tried to convince Donny (our producer) to schedule all of us again in a "Survivor" series. Put us on the old Discovery Island and see who swims across to the Wilderness Lodge first.

I'll check in here a couple times in the next few days to answer any questions. BTW, we're not as anal as the show made us look -- our little itineraries are VERY flexible, follow traffic patterns and cue times, but keep us on track with where we all want to go and what time our PS's are. They're also a way to keep me sane as when we have a month to go and everything's already planned!

Good to meet you all!

 

[jcemom]

Hi! Great to meet you! Your touring style was actually the one that most closely matches mine...so I guess I related best to your family, LOL. Hope you had a great time! Welcome to the DIS!

 

[dpuck1998]

I have one quick question for David.

First God Bless do I call you father, pastor or ?

Did you get to stay on the concierge level or did they just take you on the Sunrise Safari. Tell us all about both....I'm planning to goto Poly in Oct if AP rates ever come out, but AKL is my backup plan.

Thanks!!

 

[Disney's Deluxe Princess]

Dave Dizney,

You ROCK! When you whipped out those personalized schedules, I applauded.
Welcome to the Dis!

 

[GeekChic]

*raising hand* Erika i have a question please? i know i asked it in another thread somewhere but the thing seems to have vanished like brigadoon LOL

can you do the pirate fireworks thingie if you have less than 8 people? we have 6 and it might be a fun thing to do, but since you said it was a 'grand gatherings' thing i expect its 8 people or more?

thanks and sorry if you answered this already in the magical disappearing thread! LOL

geek

 

[beattyfamily]

Welcome to the DIS, Dave Dizney! It's a pleasure to meet you!

I loved all the groups profiled and you're book and schedule reminded me of ME!

Please continue to post and I can't wait to hear more about your experience!

Oh and I think it's great to have someone from 3 of the 4 groups posting here!

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Hi Dave!!! Nice to meet you!!! I was jealous they showed your planning binder and not mine!!! ha ha ha Mine wasn't quite as elaborate as yours... I just had a regular 3 ring notebook with dividers that were labeled with each section... "flights" "hotel info" "priority seatings" etc, etc. I always do that for every trip so I didn't think it was weird at all. I'm sure once my boys are older I will want to keep them organized as well.

I'm laughing at your Survivor idea!! Maybe next time they'll lock us all the parks after they close and see how we survive??

 

[Dave Dizney]

LOL -- that sounds good, Erika -- it's always been a dream of mine to be trapped in the MK overnight! You'd see me singing on the riverboat in Splash MT. the next morning! It was so good to hear how your portion was edited. We spent 15 hours taping including a LONG wait after hours at Dinosaur for them to outfit a car with the camera. I also thought they didn't spend enough time at Ohana's with you (our favorite place, BTW).


Thanks for the "rock" reference, Disney Deluxe Princess -- I've been grilled for the schedules we did in the video. Truth be told, we have done this for each trip to keep track of "where we should be" but not to dictate our day. It helps with knowing the traffic flow and line times, but really helps us be on time for our preferred seatings. And now, as we head back in 10 days, and my oldest son has planned the trip (he's going off to college in 28 days). Passing on the legacy.

dpuck1998, please call me "Dave." We did not actually stay in the concierge area, but in a "deluxe" area at AKL. Only those in the concierge level can do the Sunrise Safari and on certain days. As you may have guessed, we didn't actually do a Sunrise Safari, but they held the line early in the morning to make it look like we were alone out there. The park was already open. So I didn't actually do a "real" Sunrise Safari. Ah, the trickery of TV!

Thanks for the welcome! Great to meet some of you!

 

[Tinkbell]

Originally posted by Dave Dizney
We spent 15 hours taping including a LONG wait after hours at Dinosaur for them to outfit a car with the camera.

Hi Dave! Welcome to the Dis. Hope to see you around more. I've always wondered how and where they put the cameras on while riding the rides. I guess it's a pretty big process. Your family was great. Looked like you had a wonderful, big balcony at AKL. Congrats on being chosen and please post a trip report after your upcoming vacation.