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

[Tink rules]

Yeah.. that rates right up there with my brother calling my mother and asking her when my sister is flying in for her surprise party... my mother's surprise party...

Like I said.. if she finds out... make a game out of it and let her help you plan...

 

[Moodyzblu]

So happy you and V get to go again !!

Sorry she found out about part of the surprise ... I just hope she didn't hear about the Disney part !!

Her cake was amazing ... At first I didn't even realize it was a cake !

 

[blessedmom4]

Catching up with everything and I am SO sorry that they told V you were going to Florida....I know what that feels like. I know you will still have a good time, I ma just sorry it got told in the first place. I hope you can keep the WDW secret...It is typically DH who forgets things are a surprise...

 

[nannye]

Alright Everyone, The Bare Bones of the trip. Now that My scrapping retreat is over I can 100% focus on Disney. We arrive in 30 freaking Days!!! (Yes I am freaking out a bit, can you tell?


Bare Bones & Park Days

July 1st - Arrive in Sarasota Florida
July 5th - Set up V's Disney Surprise the night before and wake up early to make sure I'm up before her. I still haven't decided how I am going to tell her. I think we are going to do a Scavenger hunt. Then head off to Disney!!!!
Check in then visit DTD & MK for Wishes
July 6 - Animal Kingdom
July 7 - Magic Kingdom
July 8 - Epcot
July 9 - Magic Kingdom
July10 -Hollywood Studios
July 11- Epcot
July 12 - Magic Kingdom
We go back to Sarasota after dinner on the 12th
July 15 - Fly Home to Canada

 

[nannye]

Day 1 Plans:

Our first day will be pretty basic.

I will surprise V in the AM. I think we are going to do a scavenger hunt/treasure hunt, with the prize being her Minnie Purse, with the Birthday outfit I ordered for her, a minnie pettiskirt and matching shirt.

I Hope to leave after breakfast and arrive in Disney around 11 or NO later than 11:30. I HOPE that V's parents will stay for a little when dropping us off, at least until after I check In. I think I'm going to request that they do. I know it will be busy and check in could take a LONG time. I'm hoping that maybe V's dad will take her swimming while I check in and head to the room and take pics of the empty room and then get us set up. Then I'll go get V and hope that her parents will come and see the room. I hope we get a room right away, because I really want this to go my way and I want her parents to see the room. V was sad they didn't get to see our room last year.

I also hope they stay because then I can get them to drop us off at The Grand Floridian for our 2PM appointment with Alice!!!! My mom has made V an Alice in Wonderland costume for the Event!

We will say goodbye to V's parents and head on in. While V is at the Tea Party, I'll find the Photo Pass Desk and get the Photo Pass Plus. After weighing the options I decided it was worth the extra $ because we are dining at every restaurant included.

After the Tea Party we will head to DTD and do some exploring and Shopping.
I REALLY want to take V on Characters In Flight, the balloon ride. Has anyone done this? I am worried that she may get scared and not want to go, but I'll try.

We will do a QS dinner, I'm not sure where in DTD yet, probably Earl of Sandwhich as I have heard such great things about this! Also my friend has recommended the Ice cream place, I forget what it is called, but I think we will head there in the afternoon before dinner.

After dinner we will take the DTD Disney Boat back to Port Orleans and drop our stuff off and catch a bus to Magic Kingdom. I am hoping to get there by 7 pm. I'm not sure what we will do I know it is going to be busy, I think we will see Mickey and Minnie and maybe try a ride or two. We are then heading to Tommorowland Terrace for the Wishes Dessert Party!!!!!

After Wishes it's back to the hotel and to bed.

I have decided NOT to bring a stroller for V this day because we won't be walking A lot and I think it will be easier getting out after Wishes by walking rather than pushing a stroller. I want to get back to the resort asap so we will join the crowds walking out rather than waiting like last year.

Any comments or suggestions etc.... Please let me know.

 

[newtexan]

Ahh the stress of keeping a secret! I do hope it doesn't get out.

Sounds like a good first day. Is her Alice outfit hot? Will she be uncomfortable in it at DTD and the MK?

Earl of Sandwich is our first stop, good choices and reasonable prices.
Was it the Ghiradelli your friend mentioned?

 

[Moodyzblu]

Great plans !! Love the purse .. sooo cute.

 

[WDWCP96]

So sorry they told her About you coming to Florida. I really hope she doesn't know about Disney. Your plans for day 1 sound good and I really hope her parents stay to see the room since she really wanted them to the last time. I have been wanting to do the Wishes Dessert party, I have heard such great things about it. I have only read one TR where someone did the Characters in Flight and they enjoyed it. They did it with their 2 girls, one is 7 and the other is 4 I believe. I know my oldest would hate it as he doesn't like heights and this would freak him out.

 

[nannye]

Ahh the stress of keeping a secret! I do hope it doesn't get out.

Sounds like a good first day. Is her Alice outfit hot? Will she be uncomfortable in it at DTD and the MK?

Earl of Sandwich is our first stop, good choices and reasonable prices.
Was it the Ghiradelli your friend mentioned?

I think it was Ghiradelli! She won't be wearing Alice at DTD and MK, just for the Tea Party. Well... If she wants to wear it she can, but I think she'll want to change. It is made of a satin type fabric so it won't be Super duper hot, but she wouldn't be cool either.

Great plans !! Love the purse .. sooo cute.

I can't wait till she see's that purse!!!!!

So sorry they told her About you coming to Florida. I really hope she doesn't know about Disney. Your plans for day 1 sound good and I really hope her parents stay to see the room since she really wanted them to the last time. I have been wanting to do the Wishes Dessert party, I have heard such great things about it. I have only read one TR where someone did the Characters in Flight and they enjoyed it. They did it with their 2 girls, one is 7 and the other is 4 I believe. I know my oldest would hate it as he doesn't like heights and this would freak him out.

I am really looking forward to the Dessert Party.
i think she'll be okay for characters in Flight, she does like Roller coasters and heights don't seem to bother her, but we'll see.

 

[nannye]

Just had to say..... I got MICKEY MAIL!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[nannye]

Day 2: Animal Kingdom

We are spending one day at Animal Kingdom.
We have an 8:15 am reservation for Tusker House, so I don't know what time we will get up at, probably 6:30..... I hope I can get V up!!!! I'll let her sleep till 7 and then just throw some clothes on her and dump her in the stroller.
After Tusker House, we will probably go to get FP for Safari or Expedition Everest, which one I don't know. probably EE since I'd rather ride safari right away. I don't want to RUSH through breakfast, but I hope to be done before 9 so we can beeline it to safari when we are able.

V has an Animal Kingdom themed dress for this day.

I would really like to do some of the things we missed last year, and I definitely want to give V more time to explore the Boneyard. I'm wondering if we can somehow skip camp minnie and mickey... I don't really want to, but..... Since we are doing Tusker House, I'll see what characters/outfits we see and then go from there. Anal me of course will hate that the backgrounds are different. We will have lunch and seeing the Nemo and Festival of the Lion King Shows are a definite must....

We will probably do Kali as our last ride of the day, and head out of the park no later than 5. I decided not to do a midday break this day because after Animal Kingdom we were headed to 1900 Park Fare at the Grand Floridian and if we took a break, the travel time in between was just ridiculous. V is a stroller kid and so I am definitely renting the stroller to help preserve her energy .

So Dinner is at 6:15 at Park Fare. I am going to bring V's Cinderella dress from last august for her to wear and I bought her a cinderella headband to add to it. This meal is the one I am looking forward tothe most. I have heard such great things about the Stepsisters and I'm totally pumped to see them in person. I also am excited because I am planning to order V a custom cake for her Birthday. I decided this was the day. I am planning to order V a cinderella themed cake. I just really have no idea how I want it to look. I need to get on that, I need to order it in a week!!!!
After we are done dinner, I am going to get a cab called and take a cab back to POR. I think it will be worth the money, the bus may be a pain to wait for, take the monorail and such, plus I'll have a stroller, a kid, a backpack, a camera bag and a box of leftover cake.... we need a cab. We will get back to POR fast. Depending on the time, I hope to let V sneak in a super fast swim to just help cool off....

Well that's it, the plans for Day 2!!

In real life.... The Alice dress is done, Did I say I got V's American Girl Doll? Well some more doll clothes are ordered and last week when we were in the states I bought some material to make doll princess dresses.
I reallyhope V likes the doll!!!!

Off to bed, I work tomorrow, that's 2.5 days this week!

 

[Moodyzblu]

Sounds great ! AK is my favorite park. My boys just LOVE the Boneyard .. they could spend all day in there. I love being able to just sit and relax.

 

[newtexan]

AK day sounds great. And Cinderella cake? V will be over the top!

 

[nannye]

Day 3 will be at Magic Kingdom

This will be a busy day for us.

We are up early for a BBB appointment at 8 am. I bought V the Rapunzel Wedding dress from the store because she said she liked it, but I am going to give her the option if she wants something else, I'll save the dress for christmas.
After BBB we will head to the photoshoot in Castle Couture.

Next we will beline it straight for whatever princess line will be the busiest, I'm hoping we get to it just after opening so we are near the front.
I'm still not sure who that will be. Last year it would have been Rapunzel of course. This year I wonder if it will be Merida? I'll have to decide that last minute after getting some feedback from Disboards. The movie will have "just" come out 2 weeks before so not sure if Merida will be all hyped up yet?

We shall see. My aim is to do all of our princess visits one after the other and get all the princesses done first.

Initially I was planning a mid-day break, but I'm thinking that we will play it by ear. V should have been in bed at a somewhat decent time the night before so if she is tired, I'll try getting her to take a cat nap in the stroller. I feel like if we go back to the hotel we will be wasting a lot of time, because so far we will have spent a long time just waiting in lines with no guarantee that V will nap. And we have to be back at the park by 530 for dinner at CRT. After dinner, I was thinking we would just pop into a store or two by main street and then stake out a spot to watch the Parade, Magic Memories & You and Wishes. I want to make sure we get a good spot so I'm preparing us to sit and wait with coloring, and my itouch for V to keep her amused. Keeping in mind that we have a stroller, so I am trying to decide if it would be better to sit on the curb in the hub in front of the castle or sit on the bench that is there by the garden, I'm thinking the bench, but I'm not sure if people would then stand in front of us, because we are further back from the curb?

Any advice on what would be the best?
After Wishes I'll pop V in the stroller and battle it through Main Street. Last year we hung around and shopped, till the streets cleared out, but I know me I'll just dawdle and I'd rather V didn't fall asleep in the stroller if I can help it until we are back in the resort. Even though joining the mass of people will be awful, I think I'd rather just do what I can to get us out asap.

Thoughts and ideas?


Any thoughts or ideas for us?

 

[nannye]

Day 4: Epcot

We are at Epcot for Day 4. With being up late at Wishes the night before I am going to try and let V sleep in as late as possible. Which of course means I'll wake her up at 7:30/7:45 not much of a sleep in, but we will be taking a mid day break.

We will take the bus to Epcot. and First thing will be to grab FP for Soaring, depending on the return time. If the wait time is under 30 min we'll likely just wait and ride.

After Soaring, we will stay in the front section I think, We will probably do Character Spot Meet n Greets asap too because that line can be horrendus. If the line is way too long already, depending on the time we may go on Nemo, see turtle talk with Crush and find the aquarium in there for a bit. If it is close to 10 or after 10 we will just head to Germany and start exploring Germany until our 11 am reservation at Akershus.

After brunch we will finish exploring Germany if we have started or head back to finish the aquarium or go to the character Spot. I don't want to get too involved in anything because we will be leaving the park around 1, or 2 at the absolute latest.

We will head back to the resort for a nap and a swim. After that, it is back to Epcot where we will eplore some countries and have a CS dinner until it is time for Illuminations. I really don't have much info on where is a good spot to watch illuminations, so i'd appreciate some advice!!!

After that, battling the crowds back to the bus and collapsing in to bed.

 

[nannye]

COSTUMES ALERT

Alice in Wonderland

This is the one I bought for V for our first night at Magic Kingdom

I bought the skirt on ebay and the shirt on etsy.

 

[Moodyzblu]

I hate battling the crowds at the end of the day as well. Plus I'm usually pushing a double stroller .. but I rent one, so I don't have to bring it on the bus. But here's what I do for Wishes and Illuminations.
For Wishes (and Parade and Castle show) I set up in front of the Emporium. Keep in mind that although it IS crowded at that end .. there is a whole park full of people behind you .. so it's really not that bad if you think about it. Then when it's over .. I high tail it to the exit .. drop the stroller off (while never breaking stride) and head off to the buses. It works out very well and from what I can see from the crowds behind me, it's probably one of the fastest ways out.
Illuminations, I sort of do the same thing. I stand along the walkway entrance facing toward America .. but on the other side of the water. (right in front of the ball). Again .. the bulk of the people are inside the park and therefore will be behind you as you exit. I've noticed many people mistakenly think Illuminations is over about 3/4 of the way through it because theres sort of a break in the action .. but the finale is right after that and I sort of get annoyed because suddenly there are hoards of people coming at me during the best part of the show !
Then many of them will stop as soon as they realize it isn't over .. hopefully NOT in front of us .. but it's happened.

So, that's my fireworks strategy !

 

[newtexan]

She is going to love BBB. Those are adorable outfits you got her.

Not the bench, sit on the curb if you don't want anyone in front of you. People have an amazing way of getting in the smallest spaces for the parade and fireworks after you have been there waiting. small pet peeve of mine

 

[nannye]

I really thought about sitting on main street for the Wishes, but I really want to see Magic memories and you so I think we will just stick it out in the hub.

I wonder tho.
What if right after Magic Memories and You, assuming we are at the curb, we leave. It is after the parade and I believe there is a bit of a wait before Wishes, a couple Minutes anyways. Could we leave and head down Main street for a spot further down or are you not allowed to be in the street at this time.

If we sit on the curb, I'll put V in the stroller at the curb (no place else for the stroller and I am not folding it up, and I'll sit beside her. Is this kosher? I hate that the stroller may block view for others, but... we were there first and I have no idea what else to do.

 

[nannye]

Michelle, do you have a good view of Magic Memories and You from the Emporium, can you see all the pictures and such?