Operation BDay Surprise: PTR July 5-12 Update 6/13 Day 3 & 4 Plan & Costumes!

[nannye]

V and I went to Disney last August. Since our return I have become a Disney Nut.
I'm Erin, 29 yrs old and am Nanny to a fantastic 4 year old named V (Victoria).

I started a Trip Report from our August vacation so feel free to check it out and find out more about us! http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2866652


V's parents have a house in Bradenton Florida and last summer they took me on their vacation and I asked to take V to Disney for a few days. We went from August 29-Sept 2 and had a fabulous time! (They paid!)

This past christmas, I mentioned that I would love to fly down and take V to Disney if they didn't mind being without her for a few days, when they went to Florida this summer. (I would be paying this time-Yes that is how much I want to go to Disney) They agreed and the planning started for early July. They actually said they wanted me to come down the whole time with them, but I don't want to, I want to make sure they have family time.

V turns 5 on May 18. I usually go a little overboard on her birthday (I have a slight problem with that) but this time I decided that if we were going to Disney in July I wasn't going to do anything for her birthday in May, every penny had to go to Disney. We would do her birthday in July at Disney. Sure it's a month and a half late, but oh well..... Will she notice I skipped her birthday when May rolls around. (I will still be at the party - if there is one, and will do our dinner out, but no gifts or extras)

Have I mentioned this is a surprise trip? Thats right, it is Operation Surprise Victoria!!! My plan is to fly in to Florida a few days after them and surprise V when they pick me up at the airport, that we are headed to Disney right away.

She is going to be so very excited!!!!

I'm having some issues and problems planning this trip with ADRs and crowds and minor freaking that I have MK planned for a sat and can't seem to switch it, so I thought what better way to help address these concerns and get help than with a PTR!

But before that Lets introduce ourselves. I'm Erin and this is V!

2/12/12 - How Do I Get there?

2/20/12 It's Official Harry Potter Is Out!

2/21/12 Flying In with V!

2/26/12 Surprise #1 & The Minnie Mouse Purse!

5/10/12 REAL LIFE UPDATE: 4 Years with V!

5/13/12 V Turns 5! Party Pics & Cake!

5/17/12 Surprise #1 Blown, I am so upset!

6/4/12 Bare Bones of the Plan

6/4/12 Day 1 @ Disney Park Plan

6/8/12 Day 2 @ Disney

6/13/12 Day 3 of Disney

6/13/12 Day 4 @ Disney

6/13/12 Alice & Minnie Costumes!

 

[OrangeJuice]

Hey Nannye,
Sounds like a great trip. I'm looking forward to hear more about your plans.

 

[nannye]

Chapter 2: The Bare Bones

Ughh The crowds. Lets talk about this for a minute.

Last summer we went the end of August. Crowds were not bad! They were really good, I don't think we waited more than 20 minutes for anything really. This time we go in July! and not just any time in July, July 5th to 12th. The 4th of July week. Am I nuts! Absolutely! But.... this is the only chance we have to go. Peak Season or not at all.

I am pretty much terrified for these crowds! I've tried my best to plan accordingly but even then....

So as of now the plan is that V and her parents are flying out to Florida on June 30 or July 1. I will fly to Florida on Thursday July 5. I'll be flying out of Toronto Pearson Airport (I assume). V and her parents will pick me up at the airport "SURPRISE V, I'm in Florida and we're going to DIsney!" and then they will either drive us to the resort OR we will take the Magical Express. I really hope we get to take the Magical Express! Other option is that I will actually fly into the Sarasota Airport and they will pick me up there, which I'm betting they will prefer, but we shall see!

Another option I am considering is to fly out on July the 4th and head to a hotel near Universal or a Universal Resort. I would love to see the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. However Flying out on the 4th???? and visiting WWOHP on the 4th???? Is positively insane, but I don't really want to fly out on the 3rd and stay two nights in another resort. I'd fly out very early in the 4th, check in to the hotel/resort, get them to hold my bags if needed. Head to IOA to do Harry Potter and back to the Hotel. I expect Harry Potter will take HOURS so not much point in planning anything else at IOA am I correct?

Flying in on the 4th, would I expect heightened security due to it being the 4th? Is the airport busier on this day than usual?

To Recap: Big decision right now is Do I go to Universal or not. I haven't yet decided if it will be worth the money or not. Or worth battling the insane crowds. On the upside I am a single person. I don't expect to have time to do anything other than WWOHP... any thoughts??? I also can't really see myself going any time ever again, so I probably won't get the chance again.

 

[blessedmom4]

SOOOOOOOOO EXCITED you get another trip!!!

 

[nannye]

bump

 

[Lynn57]

YEY! You have another trip planned!

Could you add WWHOP onto the end of your trip? I imagine you probably are trying to fly back with V's family, but maybe that would work a little better. I don't think flying on the 4th is going to be too crazy since most people will be where they want to be, but the parks may be a little nuts.

Although MK on a Saturday might not be ideal, at least you probably won't feel the need to do everything and anything since you were there fairly recently. You've already figured out the "Must-Dos" for you and V, so that should help!

 

[OrangeJuice]

What time would you be landing on the 4th? We went to IOA in August of last year and we headed directly for WWOHP and managed to do the ride in the Castle (Forbidden Journey) twice within the first hour then ride the dragon's rollercoaster once. We then enjoyed the shops and the butterbeer and where out of that section of the part early enough. We returned in the afternoon and the line up for Forbidden Journey was LONG but the Dragon's Rollercoaster would of still been manageable. The ride in the castle is definitely worth any wait though. The Queue area is gorgeous anyways so it's well worth it. The butterbeer is delicious too. I highly recommend it.

Hope this helps

 

[nannye]

What time would you be landing on the 4th? We went to IOA in August of last year and we headed directly for WWOHP and managed to do the ride in the Castle (Forbidden Journey) twice within the first hour then ride the dragon's rollercoaster once. We then enjoyed the shops and the butterbeer and where out of that section of the part early enough. We returned in the afternoon and the line up for Forbidden Journey was LONG but the Dragon's Rollercoaster would of still been manageable. The ride in the castle is definitely worth any wait though. The Queue area is gorgeous anyways so it's well worth it. The butterbeer is delicious too. I highly recommend it.

Hope this helps

I don't have any times yet, but I aim to have the first flight out, arriving around 10, but hopefully a bit earlier.

I'm really rethinking WWOHP right now. It is going to be packed because it is the 4th and it is a lot of money for one night. Staying onsite is the benefit of the front of the line pass, but it's going to cost like $400, if I stay off site, it is more complicated and I wont get Front of the line and it will be busy and no transportation to and from (well if there is it is probably easier and faster to take a cab). I thought about staying at POP and taking the Mears shuttle or a cab, which i feel the most comfortable with, but then that might totally ruin the surprise.

Is there somewhere off property that would be a good meeting place? Any recommendations?

 

[Lynn57]

One thing to keep in mind is that the "front of the line pass" is not good for Forbidden Journey (the castle ride).

You would probably want to get to WWHOP as soon as the park opens to make sure you get in. Friends of mine went last summer for their honeymoon and didn't get in! You can imagine their disappointment!! (Luckily, they were able to change their plans a little and get in a few days later).

 

[nannye]

I wouldn't be able to get there for park opening. I assume it opens at 9 and I likely wouldn't get there until noon realistically hopefully earlier! But no guarantee. If it is closed I would just have to sit and wait I guess. I will be a single person/rider so hopefully that helps if I decide to go through with it.

My thinking now is that maybE I should book one night room only at a value, which would be cheaper. Yet I feel better booking at Disney than an off site. I'll fly in, take the ME to the resort check in and take A cab to universal for WWOHP just do whatever I can even if I have to wait to get in to the park. Do the must dos first and then just look around. then take a cab or shuttle back to the resort. Next am, check out of the value and in to our room at POR I'll have to get them to hold my luggage at Bell services. I'll get v and her parents to meet me in DTD maybe or somewhere close?

Because I have my heart set on surprising v at the airport, I don't really want her parents driving to the resort. I think looking out the window and seeing the signs and mickeys and especially driving under the welcome to disney arch, i woerry she will notice hey I'm in Disney and think that her parents are taking her when really they are leaving her with me. I just know she would be excited to have her parents take her andi don't want to disappoint her. Someone told me DTD was off property so I was wondering if going that way she will miss seeing the sin for wdw? I haven't been to DTD so I'm really not sure why the signage is like round there. Has anyone drove to DTD? Are there
Lots of signs prior to the parking lot? I would meet her right in the DTD parking lot.

 

[Belle599]

I generally rent a car in Orlando, so I can tell you that there is a sign when driving towards DTD. Something like this:

I am no WWOHP expert, but from what I hear, there is no way that I would recommend visiting on July 4 (or any other day) unless you can be there before park opening. I don't mean to be a downer, I just wouldn't want you to have an unpleasant experience there.

Can you do WWOHP after you are done with V at WDW? You could stay in a Value, and maybe do this ticket option from The Dis/WDWinfo that includes transfers.

http://www.dreamsunlimitedtravel.com/universal/tickets.htm

I realize that this is a 1 day - 2 park pass to get the free transfers, so do some analysis to compare to the price of paying for your transportation to Universal and getting the 1 day - 1 park (assuming all you want to do is WWOHP).

I have also stayed at the Doubletree at the Entrance to Universal Studios and there is a walking path that you can take to get to Universal - it is a little bit long, but not bad at all.

Hope this helps!!

 

[jpmom97]

I think you would really enjoy WWOHP but I totally get your concern about crowds. Sounds like you have a great trip planned for V!

 

[cindianne320]

Yes- to get to DTD- you have to pass through the Magical gates- it is definitely ON property...

 

[nannye]

I generally rent a car in Orlando, so I can tell you that there is a sign when driving towards DTD. Something like this:

I am no WWOHP expert, but from what I hear, there is no way that I would recommend visiting on July 4 (or any other day) unless you can be there before park opening. I don't mean to be a downer, I just wouldn't want you to have an unpleasant experience there.

Can you do WWOHP after you are done with V at WDW? You could stay in a Value, and maybe do this ticket option from The Dis/WDWinfo that includes transfers.

http://www.dreamsunlimitedtravel.com/universal/tickets.htm

I realize that this is a 1 day - 2 park pass to get the free transfers, so do some analysis to compare to the price of paying for your transportation to Universal and getting the 1 day - 1 park (assuming all you want to do is WWOHP).

I have also stayed at the Doubletree at the Entrance to Universal Studios and there is a walking path that you can take to get to Universal - it is a little bit long, but not bad at all.

Hope this helps!!

Thanks unfortunately doing WWOHP after Disney won't work as I will be going back with V and her parents to their house and flying back with them. They won't want to pick V up and then drive back an hour and a hlaf the following day to pick me up a day later. I will check into the links thanks. The price is pretty good actually. The 1 day ticket is $85 and for the package which would include transfersit would be about $25 each way for transport to universal via Mears. I remember reading somewhere that cab fare from a resort at disney to universal was about $30 anyways. I'll look into the Doubletree that would eliminate cab fees to and from universal. I would just have to figure out how much a cab from the airline to the hotel would be.


Can anyone recommend a place where I could meet V and her parents completely off property that I could take a cab to? Some place they wouldn't have to drive through WDW?

I am still undecided on WWOHP but I need to decide soon as my boss could book the tickets any time in the next month or so.

 

[nannye]

I generally rent a car in Orlando, so I can tell you that there is a sign when driving towards DTD. Something like this:

I am no WWOHP expert, but from what I hear, there is no way that I would recommend visiting on July 4 (or any other day) unless you can be there before park opening. I don't mean to be a downer, I just wouldn't want you to have an unpleasant experience there.

Can you do WWOHP after you are done with V at WDW? You could stay in a Value, and maybe do this ticket option from The Dis/WDWinfo that includes transfers.

http://www.dreamsunlimitedtravel.com/universal/tickets.htm

I realize that this is a 1 day - 2 park pass to get the free transfers, so do some analysis to compare to the price of paying for your transportation to Universal and getting the 1 day - 1 park (assuming all you want to do is WWOHP).

I have also stayed at the Doubletree at the Entrance to Universal Studios and there is a walking path that you can take to get to Universal - it is a little bit long, but not bad at all.

Hope this helps!!

I have a couple questions, I'll PM you if you don't mind

 

[newtexan]

reading along, so excited you get to take V again, hope we run into you on friday at the park

 

[BrerMama]

How fun for you and V! Can't wait to hear your plans!

 

[nannye]

reading along, so excited you get to take V again, hope we run into you on friday at the park

Hmmm on the Friday, we'll be at Animal Kingdom during the day and Park Fare for dinner!

 

[nannye]

It's OFFICIAL Harry Potter is out!


I asked my boss a few questions and she clued me in to the fact that there aren't any early flights from our airport to Orlando. The earliest flight wouldn't get me into the Orlando airport until after noon and by the time I get to the hotel and thento Universal it would be Mid afternoon and just not worth it at all. I can't even fly into orlando and take the ME to Disney on the 5th because there isn't enough time with a reservation at 2pm. So looks like we'll figure it out that I fly to Tampa on the 4th and take a car service to their house in Sarasota or take a non-direct flight that arrives in Sarasota which would be cheaper for me and take a shuttle to their house.

I am bummed but.... wasn't meant to be I guess.

 

[nannye]

It's OFFICIAL Harry Potter is out!


I asked my boss a few questions and she clued me in to the fact that there aren't any early flights from our airport to Orlando. The earliest flight wouldn't get me into the Orlando airport until after noon and by the time I get to the hotel and thento Universal it would be Mid afternoon and just not worth it at all. I can't even fly into orlando and take the ME to Disney on the 5th because there isn't enough time with a reservation at 2pm. So looks like we'll figure it out that I fly to Tampa on the 4th and take a car service to their house in Sarasota or take a non-direct flight that arrives in Sarasota which would be cheaper for me and take a shuttle to their house.

I am bummed but.... wasn't meant to be I guess.