Our Disney trip without the kids. A jouney into ramblings of an extreme overplanner.

[ColtGurl]

I will say upfront that I like to talk. I like to share, gab, gossip, ramble, explain, however you word it I just have a lot to say. Hi my name is Mary K and I'm a Disneyholic. Join me in planning our first ever trip without the kids. (Are we the worse parents ever or what???)On second thought dont answer that This is a learning experience for me as it is my first time doing a Pre-Trip Report. Our trip is scheduled for April 28 to May 5 (F&G woo hoo) and we will be staying at the Boardwalk Villas. This is my tale of how the trip came about and the ongoing obsessive planning.

This trip includes me and my fiance Tim. Who is not a Disneyholic (but I am working on it). Just so you can get a feel at this point I will tell you that where I am an obsessive overplanner and a tad ADD he is very laid back and likes to go with the flow. HAHA should be interesting right. Well stay tuned. Here is a picture of us on our 2010 trip.

I guess I will first tell you a little about us. Me, I have been in love with Disney for as long as I can remember. My favorite movie growing up was Bedknobs and Broomsticks (traguna, macouities, tragourum, statis, dee [sp?]). My first trip was in grade school with my mom, one of her friends and her daughter. Those were the days of Captain EO and Kitchen Caberet. I have one daughter, Alannah (17) who I have taken to the World 3 times. My daughter shares my love of Disney and wants a trip next year for her graduation. My favorite park is Epcot, especially World Showcase. How excited am I that this trip will be during Flower & Garden Even though Epcot is my favorite park my favorite rides are all at Magic Kingdom...Small World, Buzz Lightyear (I will challenge anyone) and Big Thunder. At this time I do not have a favorite resort as it is my goal to eventually stay at all of them.

Now about Tim. Tim is my fiance. We have been together 5 years and he is my best friend. He is not as big of Disneyite as I am but I am working on it. Tim has two boys that live with us, Austin (12) and Brent (11) and one daughter that does not live with us Emily (18). In 2010 we went on a group trip to Disney. This was their first trip and it was awesome!!! Take a look at this motley crew

I hope I have you interested enough to want to hang around for the next 37 days. While I figure where I want to go from here I will tease you with future chapters...What???We can go to Disney again, Whats for dinner? and Would you quit changing your mind.

 

[PixieMama]

I'm in!

I'm planning an "adult only" trip, too! But it's not my first one... last summer I went on a "girls only" trip with my mom, sister, and 3 friends! It was a bit strange to be at WDW without my kids, but it was so much fun!

 

[ColtGurl]

I'm in!

I'm planning an "adult only" trip, too! But it's not my first one... last summer I went on a "girls only" trip with my mom, sister, and 3 friends! It was a bit strange to be at WDW without my kids, but it was so much fun!

Thanks for joining A girls only trip sounds like so much fun!

 

[ColtGurl]

Well here it is. The "how we ended up going to Disney" portion of the report. Once upon a time in a land far far away...OK not really but it sounds good doesnt' it It all started back before Christmas. Tim decided he wanted just the two of us to go on a vacation this summer (YEAH!!) You dont have to tell me twice! Sign me up! I already know where I want to go. Nope, he wants to do a cruise. Ok I can live with that...a Disney cruise it is. Wrong again So we go to planning a 5 day non Disney caribbean cruise. We had pretty much narrowed down when we wanted to go and which line we were going to use when all of the problems started happening on the cruise ships. We were both having second thoughts. He finally decided he did not want to get on a cruise ship. Fine...bummer...vacation cancelled....until he comes up to me and says...(yes his exact words) "I guess we can go back to Disney" You dont have to tell me twice. I'm on it.

STIPULATIONS BY TIM:
1. Does not want to be there when it is too hot.
2. Does not want to be tied down by dinner ressies
3. Really would prefer going in Spring.
4. Just us two. No kids.

Got it Captain. I think I can manage that. Spring, no TS, just us two.

Now to decide where to stay, when to go, how to go....lots of decisions. Am I up for the task..You betcha. Up next....Room and Board. See ya real soon

 

[cinderella crazy]

How fun! An adult only trip! Dh and I loved ours in 2010. Can't wait to hear more!

 

[ColtGurl]

The first decision was trying to figure our where we were going to stay. I knew we were definately staying on property (as if there were any other way lol) Since is is my ultimate goal to stay at every resort at least once that narrowed the choices down but not by much. Hmmmmm do we splurge since the kids will not be with us or do we stay within our budget we were using for the cruise If we stayed within the "cruise" budget we would stay at a moderate which would mean. POFQ!!!

If we are splurging it could mean we go deluxe...POLY, BW, BC or GF would be my first choices.

Then I got to thinking. Tim had never stayed at CB. Since we were going to go a a Caribbean cruise maybe that would be the next best thing.

BINGO! PERFECT! Althought I would be double dipping and not getting to stay at a new to me resort I loved CB. I start pricing out and figure even if we get a preferred room we would be within our "cruise" budget. So I call my AAA agent (because I always book through them) and request a cost analysis from her. She came up with the same numbers I did. Sounds like a deal to me so I book.
So I tell Tim that I booked CB and showed him pictures. He gets to looking at BW and Poly pics and asks me if these were the same ones I had said I wanted to stay at before. UH yeah....you actually remember that??? Then he surprised me even further by saying he was hoping to stay at one of those. My concern is the cost...what does my fantastic love say to me "dont worry about cost I just want you to be happy" AWWW
Now I have to start all over, but we are going DELUXE!!!!! So after crunching numbers again come to find out it would be cheaper to get a BW studio villa than to stay deluxe. (I know cost no issue but it is to me) OK BW it is. Run it by Tim and he is excited because thats where he really wanted to stay.

So what have we learned so far? Vacation dates April 28 to May 5. Accomodations: Boardwalk Villa(studio). Stay tuned for Whats for Dinner? The dining chapter.

 

[Angies1274]

Joining in!

How exciting to be taking an "adults only" trip!! I would love to do that with my DH someday!

Yay for staying at the Boardwalk villas!!

Can't wait to find out what's for dinner?

 

[ColtGurl]

Joining in!

How exciting to be taking an "adults only" trip!! I would love to do that with my DH someday!

Yay for staying at the Boardwalk villas!!

Can't wait to find out what's for dinner?

Hi Thanks for joining

 

[ColtGurl]

One of the stipulations I was given for this trip was no TS...... YEAH RIGHT. Like I can go to Disney and not have at least one. On his hignesses insistance I booked the QS meal plan with our trip. This will be a first for me as we ususally do the TS plan and it works out really well for us. I am a true lover of the TS meal plan. As far as the QS meal plan goes I am very hesitant. I just don't think it is worth the money. Free dining is not offered during our trip and I think I could do much better paying OOP for meals. In the past I usually ate a TS and snack and I was good to go. Not really much on the QS food. I would actually end up using my QS credits for snacks. Well the debate to go with QS or go without a plan rolled around in my OCD head for a month or so. The 45 day deadline was creeping up so if I was going to cancel it would need to do it ASAP I am sure we will do at least one or two TS dinners anyway which would be OOP...So I canceled the QS plan. Saved $489.00 (this aims to be a future thread QSDP v. OOP)

Now to figure out where we will be eating. Since this it to be a "go with the flow" trip no planning should be involved...but it is...I have to plan something...right? As far as QS goes I have never been to Casey's or Pecos Bill so I would at least like to try those. In Epcot Fish and chips are a definate and so is an American Dream. (Boo Hiss tryiing to post a picture but not working)

I would love to try Cape May seafood buffet the day we get there. I LOVE seafood. I keep checking the dining ressies and they do not seem too full so hopefully when we arrive we can do a walkup. I also want to try to do a walkup at Sci-Fi. I have eaten there before but DF has not. I think he will love the atmosphere. Keep fingers crossed for us.

Finally, I did go against his wishes and booked 1 ressie. Ohana for dinner. A ressie opened up for 9:20 on a night we were going to MK. I have never done the dinner only breakfast. I am hoping for a window view so we can see Wishes.

I will try to post pictures later of the American Dream, Cape May and Sci-Fi when I get pictures working. Trip so far: April 28-May5, Boardwalk Villa, no dining plan, 1 ressie at Ohana. Next chapter: Whats the plan stan?

 

[MWDMOM]

Wow Great pre-trip report so far! I'm a complete newbie and I'm really enjoying reading it.

JoAnn

 

[PixieMama]

Dinner at 'Ohana is one of my favorites... and I've only been there once, LOL! The food is absolutely delicious; the only thing I didn't care for was the bread, and that's just because I'm not a big fan of coconut. I could've easily devoured the entire bowl of salad myself, LOL! Mmmm, just thinking about that meal has my mouth watering.

Oh, and our table at 'Ohana (for a party of 3) was right next to the window... but I was the only one with a decent view of the Castle and Wishes. My friends' view was obstructed by trees... so here's hoping you get good view!

We also did dinner at Cape May last summer... very good. DH and I are planning on going there on our Oct trip; it'll be his first time there. He loves seafood... but I don't! I can eat some, but there's not much seafood I like. But the buffet has plenty of non-seafood fare... in addition to fried calamari and panko-crusted corvina, I had ribs (which were absolutely delicious), prime rib, corn on the cob, mashed potatoes, roasted potatoes, corn bread, pasta. It was a really good meal.

 

[ColtGurl]

Wow Great pre-trip report so far! I'm a complete newbie and I'm really enjoying reading it.

JoAnn

Hi Im a newbie too This is my first report.

 

[ColtGurl]

Oh, and our table at 'Ohana (for a party of 3) was right next to the window... but I was the only one with a decent view of the Castle and Wishes. My friends' view was obstructed by trees... so here's hoping you get good view!

Fingers Crossed

We also did dinner at Cape May last summer... very good. DH and I are planning on going there on our Oct trip; it'll be his first time there. He loves seafood... but I don't! I can eat some, but there's not much seafood I like. But the buffet has plenty of non-seafood fare... in addition to fried calamari and panko-crusted corvina, I had ribs (which were absolutely delicious), prime rib, corn on the cob, mashed potatoes, roasted potatoes, corn bread, pasta. It was a really good meal.

Calamari is my favorite!!!Sounds like they have a good variety.

 

[PixieMama]

Calamari is my favorite!!!Sounds like they have a good variety.

Just FYI... they only have fried calamari one night a week. Of course this could change, but here's the menu per AllEars:

Seafood Selections
Snow Crab Legs, Steamed Clams, Prince Edward Island Sound Mussels,
Baked Seasonal Fish, Tortellini with Lobster Sauce, Seafood Pot Pie,
and Fried Cod (Sunday and Friday),
Batter-Fried Calamari (Tuesday and Thursday),
Fried Shrimp (Monday, Wednesday and Saturday)

 

[ColtGurl]

I think I finally have pictures working again. First lets start with the amazing American Dream.

Doesn't that look delicious!!! YUMMO!! I love these soo much better than Dole Whips.

Next up Sci-Fi!

I think Tim will just love this one.

Now my choices Ohana and Cape May.

I think I need to work on the sizes a little. LOL I should have the next chapter up within in the next few days so just bear with me.

 

[ColtGurl]

Just FYI... they only have fried calamari one night a week. Of course this could change, but here's the menu per AllEars:

Seafood Selections
Snow Crab Legs, Steamed Clams, Prince Edward Island Sound Mussels,
Baked Seasonal Fish, Tortellini with Lobster Sauce, Seafood Pot Pie,
and Fried Cod (Sunday and Friday),
Batter-Fried Calamari (Tuesday and Thursday),
Fried Shrimp (Monday, Wednesday and Saturday)

Thats ok I guess..I still love seafood. Thanks for the info.

 

[ColtGurl]

So here it is 2 1/2 weeks before the trip and I am only beginning to touch the plan of attack. I love having a game plan. I cannot stand being late and like sticking to a schedule. You have to know what you are doing right??? Now Tim on the other hand has a more laid back approach to life. He does horrible when he has a schedule. Whats funny is the whole family knows this. When they want him somewhere by 2 they tell him 1 because they know he will always be late. We have a word for this....Timmytime: time according to Tim, not a clock. So we compromise ALOT!!

So what I have done is created a basic plan of attack. Or a what park what day schedule. Just so we can know where we are going. In a later post I will delve into specific must sees at each park. Here it is the basic plan for our trip:
Day 1 (4/28) Arrival, tour Boardwalk, play minigolf, possible go to Epcot for EMH at night.
Day 2 (4/29) AK until we do everything we want to see, then MK for evening EMHS
Day 3 (4/30) EP, then HS for evening EMHs
Day 4 (5/1) MK, then maybe HS or DTD
Day 5 (5/2) HS or EP (depends on previous night), Ohana 920
Day 6 (5/3) DTD or EP or AK
Day 7 (5/4) HS or DTD, then EP for evening EMHs
Day 8 (5/5) Leave

As you can see it is full of options. (Hmmmm any Rachel Zoe fans out there..you can never have enough options...lol) I am a firm believer in the afternoon break for regrouping and napping. Also cannot live without the hoppers. AK is our least favorite park so the one day will probably be enough for us. If we do DTD on Day 6 we wont do it on Day 7.
Next post: Welcome Home!!! Day One and Day Two.

 

[Angies1274]

Your plans sound good so far!

Breaks in the afternoon are a must for us as well!!

Your dining choices look great! We dropped the QS plan as well and I'm excited that it gives us the opportunity to try some new TS places (like Ohana) that we wouldn't have if we had stayed on the QS plan. We loved breakfast there on our first trip so we are hoping we will be just as happy with dinner.

Yay for only 2 weeks left!!!

 

[ColtGurl]

How have I gotten this far behind??? WOW. We leave Saturday and I havent even done our daily "must sees" Looks like this is going to be a long one
Day 1:
We will arrive around 4:00 pm. After a long day of travel we will probably be hungery. This is where I am hoping to snag a walk up to Cape May. But if not we will just find somewhere on the Boardwalk to eat. After all the unpacking and such is done it is off to mini-golf at Fantasia Gardens.

On our way back we can get ice cream at Beaches and Cream
Depending on the timing we will probably just stroll the Boardwalk and try to watch Illuminations from the bridge. This will be an early night so we can hop to it tomorrow and begin our park hopping extraviganza!!!

Day 2:
In the morning we will be going to Animal Kingdom.

This is our least favorite park and we should be able to cover just about everything we want to see.Our main goals are to ride Expedition Everest, Kilimanjaro Safari, Dinosaur, and Primevil Whirl and see Bugs Life. Secondary are to see Lion King and see charactors in charactor trails. We should be done here by 2:00 pm. My thinking is if we decide to eat lunch here we will eat at Pizzafari and hop over to the charactor trails during a Lion King showing. I guess it depends on our fast pass times.
If we get back to the Boardwalk around 4 we can take a little swim or take a nap before heading to MAGIC KINGDOM for EMH.

The goal is to head to MK around 7 or 8. First thing will be to get dinner. Probably at Caseys or Pecos Bills. Our touring will begin in Adventureland with Pirates, Jungle Cruise and Swiss Family Treehouse and work our way around through Frontierland to see Country Bears and into Liberty Square to view the Haunted Mansion. It is here where we will watch the 11 Main Street Electrical Parade

After the parade we will work our way around to Fantasyland and into Tomorrowland. We may not make it all the way to 2 am because I want to get up early tomorrow for EPCOT!!!! I will probably be doing Epcot by myself in the am. LOL