Our Family's 2nd Trip to Disney World-Pre-Trippie

[PixieDustPrincess05]

So Austin and I went out to a couple of stores tonight- AC Moore (our craft store), and Walmart. I was looking for Nemo decorations, and there was none of course, so I resorted to making my own. I started tonight making some, but of course, it is a surprise !!!!!! I am working on the menu as well-surprise , and an activity- surprise again !!!!!

 

[PixieDustPrincess05]

Hi everyone!

I really wish that disney would hurry up and offer free dining- it is driving me batty !!!!! The reason is, I really want to keep those dates and stay for 6 days/ 5 nights, and book my flights, and so on. And here is another tid bit of info- I also want to add the park hopper passes to my ressie !!!!!!

I have been looking at pictures and reading reviews on MNSSHP all week, and wondering if it is actually worth it for me to add it. So here is what it comes down to for my reasons for rooting for the park hopper over this:

1) It is about the same amount for MNSSHP as it is to add on the PH passes
2) The night of MNSSHP, I can enjoy another park that is open later (hopefully)
3) I would rather be able to hop around my whole trip, then just go to MNSSHP for a few hours.
4) I've read some mixed reviews, some say it is great, but alot of people say how overcrowded it is, and the lines are long for everything.

I do have to say though the Hallowishes fireworks display looked awesome on Youtube though!!!!

So I am still keeping my fingers crossed about free dining- please hope with me everyone !!!!!

 

[PixieDustPrincess05]

You know what? I think I just changed my mind!!!! I know, everytime I am set on something, I go and read someone's review, and change my mind completely!!! So here's the deal. I am all for the park hopper passes- but when reading a review, I found a valid point not to have them- you tell me if this makes sense.

1) They are nice to have- don't get me wrong- but that is an extra 167.00 added on to my trip !!!! We didn't really use them a whole lot our last trip. We went to HS the first day- it rained bad, so we left and went back to MK later in the day. Well, if it weren't for the darn rain, we would've stay at HS!!!!! Day 2- I think we went to AK- then it rained real bad again, then I think we went back to MK later that day for a CP dinner ressie. Day 3- I think we attempted HS again, then went to Epcot for like 10 min- then back to MK cause the sun came out- then it rained again!!!! So, do you see a pattern here? We are big MK fans- so I am going to set aside two days for MK, 1 for Epcot, 1 for AK, and 1 for HS. We really only hopped cause of the rain.

2) You need one full day at MK, one full day at Epcot, and you can swing a full day at HS, and AK if you take your time and do what they have offered. So, this is when I read this persons review on the PH's. They are great, but, it takes more time shuttling from one park to another than it does to stay in one park and get done what you need to get done. Which is definitely true. From the time you battle your way out of the park, wait a half hour for a bus from HS to Epcot, drive to Epcot, take the mile walk from the bus area to Epcot. Your wasting a lot of time!!!! I never actually thought of it this way. This next trip I want to take a little slow- and take everything in- you know, enjoy the trip!!!!! If we pick a park, stay in it for the day- we can accomplish everything we need that day. We'll go at rope drop, or for morning EMH's-- stay till 12pm-1 maybe take a hotel break, and come back in the evenings. Sounds great to me.

3) With this new plan, my only setback seems to be AK. This park closes too darn early. But you know I have back up for this. Either A) we are lucky enough to hit night EMH's or B) We will plan a little something something fun to do in DTD. Or...... since I am not taking the park hopper option maybe, just maybe 3) After AK, MNSSHP!!!!!! That will be 3 days a MK!!!! We'll have to see how that goes. If not, maybe we'll go to DTD and find something fun to do.

Ok, I am sooo excited about these plans as you can see I really had to sit and think about justifying 167.00 for the PH's, and it is really not worth it I don't think this time around. If I were staying a shorter time, then yes, I would definitely- but you know what, I just made up my mind and I am not!!!! Nope, even if free dining isn't offered, and I have to pay OOP for it- I got a beast of a deal using that $200.00 AMEX gift card-which is basically free dining right there. Free dining would just be the icing on the cake . So yes everyone- I am booked from Monday 9/20- Saturday 9/25 and am sticking to it!!!! So.... which brings me to my next thing.... which I am going to use a separate post for because it is plans!!!

 

[PixieDustPrincess05]

So here is a rough draft of our itinerary. I cannot set it in stone because I do not know the actual park hours or EMH's for our trip- but I am giving you a little idea of what I want.

Monday September 20-
Will be off from work.
Send Austin to school, finish last minute errands/packing, pick Austin up from school.
Bill will be off from work at 2pm.
Grab dinner on the road, and head to the airport.
Get to airport around 4:45/5pm- as we are hoping for the 6:40 flight.
Land in orlando at 8:50pm
Magical Express to Pop Century
Check In
Get settled in Room- maybe take a swim, wander around Pop, grab a snack.

Tuesday September 21-
Magic Kingdom Day
Breakfast at POP
Rope drop (hopefully EMH's this day)
Want to get as many rides as possible!!!
Mainstreet Bakery is a must for a snack.
Parades
SpectroMagic
Wishes
Back to hotel for relaxing and swimming

Wednesday September 22-
Animal Kingdom Day
Breakfast at POP
Rope Drop (hopefully EMH's this day)
As many rides as possible
Mickey's Jungle Jammin Parade
Camp Mickey's for Characters
Restaurants- Flame Tree BBQ for lunch. If EMH, we may do Pizzafari for dinner, but probably not. We will either go to DTD or back at POP.

Thursday September 23rd-
Epcot Day Future World/Worlds Showcase
Breakfast at POP
Rope Drop (hopefully EMH's this day)
As many rides as possible
Definitely want to see some shows!!!!!
Definitely want to take our time in the countries at WS!!!!
Restaurants- not too sure yet.

Friday September 24th-
HS Day
Breakfast at POP
Rope Drop (hopefully EMH's this day)
As many rides as possible
Restaurants- Pizza Planet
Fantasmic! if it is showing

Saturday September 25th-
Our Last day :-(
2nd Magic Kingdom Day
Up very early
Breakfast at POP
Check bags and head to MK for rope drop
Finish what we missed, and hit all of the rides we love the most one more time
Head to DTD for last minute shopping
Be back at hotel around 5pm, eat dinner, use any unused meal/snack credits
Catch ME back to MCO
Land around 11:40 I think and start planning another trip!!!!


The reason why I did not post MK's meals is because we will be there afew times and I don't know which day I will eat where but here is where I want to eat:

El Pirata y El Pericos
Cosmic Rays
Pecos Bills
and like I mentioned earlier- definitely Main Street Bakery for a snack!!!

I really like these plans- they will probably be tweaked here and there from now until we get there, but hey at least I have a foundation on what I want to do this time around.

So...... I know, I am an energizer bunny tonight I just keep going........and going .......and going !!!!!!!!!!!!!! But I think I have something else in mind.

I know I posted a few hours ago that I wasn not going to MNSSHP, and that I would do the park hopper instead but I think I want to flip flop that. If everything gets paid off early, and I find great prices on the flights I want, then I very well just may buy tickets to MNSSHP!!!! Not sure yet, not a definite, but it is a possibility. I really hate the fact that September's hours aren't going to be as late as the summer hours, and I know MK is open till like 12am on those nights, so I just may have to!!!!! We'll see!!!!!

Ok, well enough for tonight- sweet Disney Dreams everyone- and Ann, I will try to have a Disney dream with you in it!!!! I'll probably dream about you, me, and Pam sitting around at the POP food court (after the kiddie's are in bed and our grumpy dh's that can care less about dising give us the ok to have a dismeet!!!) having a late night snack and just talking about how wonderful Disney is!!!!! I know I need to go to bed- I sound a little out there !!!!

Good night all- and don't forget- 3 days until Nemo night!!!!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Janine, that's a hard choice! I love park hoppers and I love MNSSHP! I think I would have to go with the hoppers, but only b/c my husband loves Epcot WS and wants to go there almost every night!

I see a little blip in your schedule. Tuesday, Sept. 21 will almost definitely be a MNSSHP night, which means there will be no Spectro or Wishes. The parties are usually on Tuesday and Friday in September and then they add in Sunday's and eventually Thursday right before Halloween.

IF you can plan your days just right, I see no reason to hop if you don't have to! You can do it!

 

[Charlefours]

Hi Stephanie!
So how is your planning coming along? I think I am at a standstill a little bit till I find out if free dining comes out- I don't want to book my plane tix until I know for sure if they are having it. If it is not offered, I am knocking two days off of my trip, so I want to make sure that it is being offered because it is like 75.00 pp for Spirit Airlines to make a change to your flight ressie.

Have a great night!!!!

I just posted a couple updates if you get a chance to swing over. Planning is going well. Since this will be my second ever trip and our first trip with a child, there is a lot to learn!!

I go back and forth about PHs too. DH just really wants to keep them on so I said ok. When I can get my chart printed out so I can take a picture (Did not like how it showed up in print screen option) I am really not taking advantage of it. DH wants us to leave it on in case we feel like hitting up any of the EMH evening hours as those are the only ones we will take advantage of.

MNSSHP, we are still planning on it but it will easily be the first thing dropped if we decide it is not worth the extra money. From all accounts I have heard, it is much better than the MVMCP. Trick or treating in MK--I think DD would have a ball!!

Happy planning and happy dreams!! I am glad you were able to work it out for staying the full time you wanted. All the better that dropping PH made it possible without even free dining been released. Just think--free dining is released you can decide on MNSSHP!!

 

[Shmily01]

Hi! I followed your ticker on another board because I saw you were going in Sept too! I'm subbing! How exciting that you already have your trip booked. I'm still waiting to get our tax refund back before we book!

 

[PixieDustPrincess05]

Janine, that's a hard choice! I love park hoppers and I love MNSSHP! I think I would have to go with the hoppers, but only b/c my husband loves Epcot WS and wants to go there almost every night!

I see a little blip in your schedule. Tuesday, Sept. 21 will almost definitely be a MNSSHP night, which means there will be no Spectro or Wishes. The parties are usually on Tuesday and Friday in September and then they add in Sunday's and eventually Thursday right before Halloween.

IF you can plan your days just right, I see no reason to hop if you don't have to! You can do it!

Thanks for the great advice!!!! Well in that case if there is no Spectro or Wishes - I will definitely changing my MK to AK more than likely or HS and hopefully attending MNSSHP!!!!

 

[PixieDustPrincess05]

I just posted a couple updates if you get a chance to swing over. Planning is going well. Since this will be my second ever trip and our first trip with a child, there is a lot to learn!!

I go back and forth about PHs too. DH just really wants to keep them on so I said ok. When I can get my chart printed out so I can take a picture (Did not like how it showed up in print screen option) I am really not taking advantage of it. DH wants us to leave it on in case we feel like hitting up any of the EMH evening hours as those are the only ones we will take advantage of.

MNSSHP, we are still planning on it but it will easily be the first thing dropped if we decide it is not worth the extra money. From all accounts I have heard, it is much better than the MVMCP. Trick or treating in MK--I think DD would have a ball!!



Happy planning and happy dreams!! I am glad you were able to work it out for staying the full time you wanted. All the better that dropping PH made it possible without even free dining been released. Just think--free dining is released you can decide on MNSSHP!!

Hi Stephanie!!!!

Yeah as of right now, like TwoBoysandmyGirl said, if I plan my days just right, I can easily do it without the Park Hoppers. Which is true if you really think about it. Now, if we were going in the summer, I would have added the ph's without hesitation- beings the parks are open soooo late. Looking at last years September hours, they really aren't open late enough for us to hop all over the place, so I think if we have extra money we are going to put it towards MNSSHP.

 

[PixieDustPrincess05]

Hi! I followed your ticker on another board because I saw you were going in Sept too! I'm subbing! How exciting that you already have your trip booked. I'm still waiting to get our tax refund back before we book!

Hi Melissa welcome aboard!!!!!!!!!!!

How exciting that you are going in September too- I will have to check out your pre-trippie!!!

 

[PixieDustPrincess05]

So I worked from 8:30am-4:30pm today, and met Bill and Austin at the movie theater for "The Princess and the Frog"- what a cute movie!!! Then we headed over to the mall for dinner.

I was explaining to Bill the PH situation and MNSSHP, and his reply was "whatever you want dear". I am really thinking of going to MNSSHP. We will either do AK or HS that day and then head over to the MK later on that night for the party . That would allow us to go the the MK 3 times!!!! So now I can definitely justify not taking the PH passes!!!!!!!! We'll see how everything goes, but I definitely have this on my to do list!!!

My disney freak friend at work has a 2 disc cd set of Disney's Happiest Celebration on Earth- which apparantely you could only buy at the parks a few years back- and he made me a copy. So now when I'm driving, I am jamming to Grim Grinning Ghost's, Small World, and manyyyyy other songs from the rides at WDW!!!!!!!!!

 

[3princesses+aprince]

Ok, as you can see, I am up awfully late. Ugh, I got out of work 40 minutes late
I think my kids will really enjoy MNSSHP! How fun will trick or treating in the MK be I heard that the lines for the rides weren't bad on those nights! Plus the Hallowishes look really awesome! As does the Boo to you parade. My kids are already thinking about their costumes

As for not hopping though, I don't think you can go to AK and then come to MK for MNSSHP if you don't have the hopper? Not 100% sure though, I of course have never been to MNSSHP before!

I have my tentative schedule as well ,but it keeps changing all around. I know it won't be final until park hours and MNSSHP dates are released!

Aww, Princess and the frog, we still have to go see that. We went to the movies a few weeks ago and the girls picked Alvin and the chipmunks!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Pam, she can go to AK with a regular park day ticket and then go to MNSSHP that night because MNSSHP requires a separate party ticket, so it is allowed!

 

[PixieDustPrincess05]

Ok, as you can see, I am up awfully late. Ugh, I got out of work 40 minutes late
I think my kids will really enjoy MNSSHP! How fun will trick or treating in the MK be I heard that the lines for the rides weren't bad on those nights! Plus the Hallowishes look really awesome! As does the Boo to you parade. My kids are already thinking about their costumes

As for not hopping though, I don't think you can go to AK and then come to MK for MNSSHP if you don't have the hopper? Not 100% sure though, I of course have never been to MNSSHP before!

I have my tentative schedule as well ,but it keeps changing all around. I know it won't be final until park hours and MNSSHP dates are released!

Aww, Princess and the frog, we still have to go see that. We went to the movies a few weeks ago and the girls picked Alvin and the chipmunks!

Isn't that funny how many times you can change your schedule before the trip!!!! I am sure I will be flip flopping everything around until the park hours come out!!!!

 

[PixieDustPrincess05]

Hi everyone!!! Yes, tonight is our big night!!!! The only thing is dh works until 6pm tonight, and we are getting a little snow storm right now . Austin and I had went out earlier- we had lunch at Pizza hut, and then we went over to Party City to pick up a few things for our movie night. It started snowing at Pizza Hut, and by the time we were on our way to Party City, the roads were starting to cover. I slid on the road soooo many times - and was just glad to get home. We are only supposed to get 1-3 inches, so thats hopefully all we will get. So, to make a long story short, hopefully dh will be able to get home easily and safely so we can start our activities.

I think the craft that I have planned Austin and I will do beforehand, along with the decorating. We will just make an extra for dh. Then, we will eat dinner when Bill gets home, dessert, and watch Nemo!!!!


I made the cutest desserts too last night, but its a secret until I get my pics uploaded- along with everything else!!!! I also made chocolate covered pretzels last night for the first time- but they weren't for Nemo night, just to eat !!!!

Another thing---- hmmmmm I don't know how to say this. I am pretty sure that we can do without the park hoppers this trip. Yep, I can't justify spending almost an extra 200.00 for these when the parks aren't open super late. So onto MNSSHP- still not sure about this, one minute I want to go, another minute I don't. I have read soooooooo many mixed reviews on this that I want to scream . So I asked myself why I would want to go and here is what I came up with:

1) I have never been to a party in WDW
2) Hallowishes and Boo to You look great
3) MK is open till 12pm

Then...... I asked myself why I would not want to go:

1) It is as expensive as the ph's- except I am paying that extra almost 200.00 for 5 hours, instead of being able to hop all week.

2) I heard that they give out the same type of candy at every location- tootsie rolls, smartees, and lolli pops. Also Halloween is not for another month.

3) I would want to buy the tix ahead of time to save $$$ and to ensure that it didn't sell out. But, basically once you buy the tix your are stuck with them- even if it rains- the park will probably remain open, but the activities that I paid for are cancelled.

So honestly, I do not know. I have just as many good as bad reasons, but I really think it will all come down to park hours. Yes, thats what I need . Park hours, so I can make my official itinerary and tweak it a little here and there instead of changing it everyday . And free dining too- I need that as well!!!!!!!! As soon as I get all of this set, I can buy my plane tix.

 

[PixieDustPrincess05]

Ok, so our Nemo night didn't go exactly as planned . But we still did it . I took a few pictures but they are not uploaded yet, so I will just tell you what we did. I made one of those chainlink garlands out of bright orange and bright blue scrapbook paper and put Nemo Stickers all over it and hung it in the archway between my kitchen and living room. I bought foam bookmarks and foam fishy stickers and Austin and I made bookmarks and he his going to give them to some of our family. I bought a green plastic tablecloth and these little plastic sea creatures to put on the table.

Our Menu:

Chicken Tenders dipped in Honey Mustard Sauce and them breaded in crushed Goldfish crackers and baked. (They were ok, they tasted ok, I just wouldn't make them again. I chose chicken because Bill and Austin do not like seafood).

Sea shell pasta with spaghetti sauce

Steam in a bag broccoli

Orange Crush "Crush" soda

Dinner was not that great.... I'll stick with what I know next time and keep it simple- I had just seen the goldfish cracker chicken finger recipe and thought it would sound good.

Dessert was awesome though!!!!
I have these large Iced Tea glasses that look like wine glasses. I made blue raspberry Jello and put Nemo fruit snacks inside, they looked like little fishbowls, they were adorable!!!!

Then, I popped some popcorn and Austin layed down on his little character couch in my room, and we fell asleep not even half way through Finding Nemo!!!!!

So that was our Nemo night. It didn't come out as great as I planned, but it was ok. Next time I will keep it simple. I think we are going to do Toy Story next, not sure.

Have a great day everyone!!!

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

Nemo night sounds like it was fun. Can't wait to hear about Toy Story.

Have a great day.

 

[Shmily01]

Wow sounds like yall had a great time! I'm gonna have to try that with the kiddos.

 

[PixieDustPrincess05]

Nemo night sounds like it was fun. Can't wait to hear about Toy Story.

Have a great day.

Dessert and the movie was our favorite part- I was really disappointed with the dinner though LOL!!!!!!!

 

[PixieDustPrincess05]

Wow sounds like yall had a great time! I'm gonna have to try that with the kiddos.

Thanks!!!! All you have to do is pick a disney movie and theme your night around it, whether you play a game or make a craft. A lot of people theme their dinners and desserts around it to. They have some really creative ideas on the boards. Have fun with it and let me know if you do one, I would love to read about it !!!