Pennsylvania to WDW in Sept '14

[Li Li]

Okay, I will still need to do a nice, proper update but since we are leaving for Las Vegas shortly, it will have to wait until next week or some time.

Anyway, I was all set for FP+ last night at midnight. I was worried because I heard so many stories about how the dates weren't showing up until 1 am and I didn't want to stay up that late.

So imagine my surprise and excitement when I hopped on the MDE phone app at 12:03 and saw all my dates show up! Woo hoo! I bounced around different dates and booked up our days.

It was easy peasy!!! I was all done by 12:30 and that was even after going back and forth on different dates and changing times around. I still expect to do a LOT of tinkering with it, but at least I have the biggies booked and can fiddle later. Also, I recognize that it is probably easier for me since I only have two people to schedule and not a whole family. Also, I've had some practice since this was my third time doing FP+. We had it for our October trip last year and May this year.

Also, I should probably let Nigel have an opinion or two since I didn't mention that I was scheduling last night.
Don't worry, he has access to the app and can check on what I'm doing!

 

[NigelSTW]

One confounding factor in the ADR and FP+ situation is that we now have things scheduled for SIX days in the parks while holding a FIVE day parkhopper. We've been iMessaging all morning about bridging the tickets or ticket bridging or whatever its called to add a sixth day. Otherwise something gotta go. Oh, we'd like to visit a waterpark because the last time I was in a water park was Tyhpoon Lagoon in 1990, and before that River Country (RIP) in 1983 or so.

Vegas is going to be so much more simple.

 

[NigelSTW]

There has been a change in plans. Instead of leaving Sunday from Harrisburg to Orlando, we are leaving a day earlier from Trenton New Jersey to Orlando. Instead of arriving at 10am or so on Sunday, we' we touch down at 5:30pm or so on Saturday.

I am not sure exactly why we decided to do this other than we have sorta regretted leaving on Sunday since we planned this operation. The flight out of Trenton was quite reasonable. We now have booked one night at All Star Movies before moving to POFQ as planned.

We now have to figure out how we are getting to Trenton, and what to do about the car rental in Orlando. It'll be good to start the Sunday in WDW than travel the morning to get there.

Stay tuned.

 

[Joben]

Hey now I'm here!!!(yup I like exclamation marks too)
Looks like we are going to be there just after you guys(first week of OCT for us) We are trying this trip with both of our parents (dun dun dunnn)

I like that you have a list of things you want to do that you haven't done before. No matter how many times we go we find there is always something we have never tried, and we like to force ourselves out of our norm and do those things. The hard part is the list of things we have to do grows every year. Oh well guess we will just have to start doing ten day trips!!! poor us. We haven't done one yet, it is always a week for us, but someday. Hopefully it is before I become a Disney bus driver. (yup that is my retirement fantasy, I'm weird. Well the fantasy is to be a bartender at Disney, but really that is too far fetched)

I like your list and have some duplicates of things on there, sadly some of them I can't do until I get someone else besides Jayne to go with me: primeval whirl, tea cups. Someone can't handle that much spinning

We just tried country bear jamboree...surprisingly baudy...for Disney that is.

I would like to hear what you think of the Hopp-Dee-Doo as a, we keep talking about doing that one.

Still haven't been to a water park, that's because nothing can top River Country, right Nigel? It still kinda bothers me to see the graveyard whenever we boat by it. Every now and then I go on Yesterland just to look at the pictures of it.

Toy Story Mania is one of those things that I have to do...and I have to win. I recently found out that there are Easter Eggs on the ride that allow you to get those ridiculous scores you sometimes see posted. So that is happening next time.

I'm very excited to try the mine train, but I know it won't become a must do for us, so I think we will FP+ it and be done after that. And Astro orbiter is going on the list this time. If it involves space, I'm in Space mountain however, well I've ridden it a billion times, and it is too herky jerky for the DW so that one goes by the wayside, plus lines are usually long, and I don't want to waste a FP+ on it. Maybe we we go with some of my family next March.

I just wanted to add I think you guys should consider driving to FL for the trip. You now know the advantage of having a car in WDW. You can save a ton of money from flying. Plus we can bring so much more with us when we drive. I can have a cooler for the beer and stuff in the room(that dorm fridge fills up fast) I also bring an electric skillet so we can have eggs in the morning. We tend to eat all breakfast in the room and most lunches and a couple of dinners. This also cuts down on a lot of cost too. However with the DDP that point is moot. But The DW did the math and doing it this way it is Way cheaper to rent points at OKW then to stay at a value with the DDP. I'm not much of a "driving is part of the fun" guy (she is) But I really like this style of vacation.
Anyway keep up the reports and have fun!!!!!!

 

[Li Li]

Hey now I'm here!!!(yup I like exclamation marks too)
Looks like we are going to be there just after you guys(first week of OCT for us) We are trying this trip with both of our parents (dun dun dunnn)

Yay!!! Thanks for checking in! The trips are almost here, so exciting! Ooooh, parents...good luck. When we visited WDW in years past, Nigel's parents were wintering in Orlando and had APs. The first year, we did a full MK day with them. Not exactly rope drop, but morning till night. The next day they definitely looked worse for wear! They had kept up with us every step of the way, and we felt so bad that we wore them out without realizing it! So, that's my experience for what it is worth, good luck!

I like that you have a list of things you want to do that you haven't done before. No matter how many times we go we find there is always something we have never tried, and we like to force ourselves out of our norm and do those things. The hard part is the list of things we have to do grows every year. Oh well guess we will just have to start doing ten day trips!!! poor us. We haven't done one yet, it is always a week for us, but someday. Hopefully it is before I become a Disney bus driver. (yup that is my retirement fantasy, I'm weird. Well the fantasy is to be a bartender at Disney, but really that is too far fetched)

This will actually be our longest trip to date, so we are definitely excited. 10 days: that's the dream, right?! (Other than living there!) No weird fantasy retirement dreams when it comes to WDW!
I always picture myself in guest relations!

I like your list and have some duplicates of things on there, sadly some of them I can't do until I get someone else besides Jayne to go with me: primeval whirl, tea cups. Someone can't handle that much spinning

Oh no! So sorry Jayne doesn't like spinning. Spinning doesn't bother me luckily, but I refuse to go back on Mission Space with Nigel. I went once and that was it. The whole time I was freaking out because if a random medical condition is going to rear its ugly head, it is likely going to be on that ride!

We just tried country bear jamboree...surprisingly baudy...for Disney that is.

I would like to hear what you think of the Hopp-Dee-Doo as a, we keep talking about doing that one.

I've enjoyed trip reporting so far, so I hope to do one for September. So, full report coming!

Still haven't been to a water park, that's because nothing can top River Country, right Nigel? It still kinda bothers me to see the graveyard whenever we boat by it. Every now and then I go on Yesterland just to look at the pictures of it.

Thank god for You Tube to feed our nostalgia! We love finding old WDW videos to watch.

Toy Story Mania is one of those things that I have to do...and I have to win. I recently found out that there are Easter Eggs on the ride that allow you to get those ridiculous scores you sometimes see posted. So that is happening next time.

Since we got to try it for the first time in May, I think I am definitely addicted. Much better than Buzz Lightyear, in my opinion.

I'm very excited to try the mine train, but I know it won't become a must do for us, so I think we will FP+ it and be done after that. And Astro orbiter is going on the list this time. If it involves space, I'm in Space mountain however, well I've ridden it a billion times, and it is too herky jerky for the DW so that one goes by the wayside, plus lines are usually long, and I don't want to waste a FP+ on it. Maybe we we go with some of my family next March.

I just wanted to add I think you guys should consider driving to FL for the trip. You now know the advantage of having a car in WDW. You can save a ton of money from flying. Plus we can bring so much more with us when we drive. I can have a cooler for the beer and stuff in the room(that dorm fridge fills up fast) I also bring an electric skillet so we can have eggs in the morning. We tend to eat all breakfast in the room and most lunches and a couple of dinners. This also cuts down on a lot of cost too. However with the DDP that point is moot. But The DW did the math and doing it this way it is Way cheaper to rent points at OKW then to stay at a value with the DDP. I'm not much of a "driving is part of the fun" guy (she is) But I really like this style of vacation.
Anyway keep up the reports and have fun!!!!!!

We definitely do want to try driving sometime! Although I think our longest road trip as a couple only tops out at 5 hours? So, hopefully, it would go well. But I think it is something that we will definitely accomplish at some point.

Thanks!!!

 

[Li Li]

Ack!!!! 25 days left?! How can this be? We have our FP+ set, our ADRs made (but we all know that will likely change) and now I am just waiting on my BOG lunch FP to open up!

But...I had all these plans. I was going to make shirts. (Just for me; Nigel's a spoilsport). I was going to look into decorating our Magic Bands! (In my head, I think I am crafty; in reality, not so much!) The MBs have arrived! And now, I feel like I won't get anything done. We are in Philadelphia this weekend to see Book of Mormon (woo hoo!) and we still want to fit in another Hersheypark trip. Plus, we never got to the local pool. I still need to lose weight. So, as you can see, ackkk! Or, #firstworldproblems, take your pick.

So, as soon as I finish up my May TR (hopefully Friday), I will be back to discuss our plans. I really do want to share what restaurants we are going to as I am really excited since they are almost all new to us!

 

[Li Li]

TR is all finished, and now this PTR is almost at its natural conclusion. That's right, we are winging our way to Disney World in TWO days!!!

So excited! I think I am definitely going to do a TR for this trip. Hopefully, I learn from the last one and take better notes.

So many new experiences are in store. Let's go through them:

- First time with dining plan
- First time going to Grand Floridian Spa (Senses) - thanks to best husband ever!
- Longest trip ever (Saturday to Sunday)
- New resort, POFQ (with King bed!)
- After hours Epcot Wind Down at La Cava del Tequila
- Seeing all the shows at AK
- Festival of Fantasy parade
- Character meals!

For that matter, all new meals! Here are the ADRs for the trip:
Kona Cafe, Ohana, Crystal Palace, Mama Melrose (for F! package), Hoop De Doo Revue, Tusker House, & Via Napoli. All NEW to us!

I'll post a link for the TR when we get back. Have fun while I'm gone!!!

 

[moe10378]

Sounds like you all have a great trip mapped out!!!! I love the parks this time of year! We are flying out Sept. 28 for our sons wish trip to Orlando, and cannot wait!!! Have a great time, can't wait to read your tr!!!!

 

[Li Li]

Sounds like you all have a great trip mapped out!!!! I love the parks this time of year! We are flying out Sept. 28 for our sons wish trip to Orlando, and cannot wait!!! Have a great time, can't wait to read your tr!!!!

Thanks!!! Hope you have a great wish trip!!