POP and MNSSHP Oct 08 + BONUS Weekend at WL in Dec -*2/20 Update - The End!*

[mom2mek]

Michelle/Monica, I tried to fit another ticker in too and couldn't. I guess I could take the picture of the kids out of there to free up some more room. It is kind of an old picture!

Char, my report is in my signature..does my fancy link not work? Would love to see some friends over there...kind of lonely! (hint hint....ahem....Monica....ahem....Jen....)

Sara

Emily's smilies:

 

[Poohtigeey]

Way to be subtle Sara. I didn't know you had one smartypants.

 

[disneyfanx3]

Michelle/Monica, I tried to fit another ticker in too and couldn't. I guess I could take the picture of the kids out of there to free up some more room. It is kind of an old picture!

Char, my report is in my signature..does my fancy link not work? Would love to see some friends over there...kind of lonely! (hint hint....ahem....Monica....ahem....Jen....)

Sara

Emily's smilies:

I didn't notice the link before - I am heading over now to check it out.

Michelle if you go to Mickey Path.com you can get their rolling ticker and fit them all into one.

 

[mom2mek]

Way to be subtle Sara. I didn't know you had one smartypants.

Subtlety is one of my specialties! I learned it from some of my friends!

I didn't notice the link before - I am heading over now to check it out.

Michelle if you go to Mickey Path.com you can get their rolling ticker and fit them all into one.

How does a rolling ticker work, anyway? I just now figured out how to do a link in my siggie without the path...I don't know if I can handle the complexities of a rolling ticker.

Sara

 

[mkluvsmickey]

subscribing

Thanks and Welcome!

I found you - can't wait to hear all about your plans so I can borrow them for the next weekend

Great idea Char! I'll let you know how my plans work out!

Char, my report is in my signature..does my fancy link not work? Would love to see some friends over there...kind of lonely! (hint hint....ahem....Monica....ahem....Jen....)
Sara
Emily's smilies:

Way to be subtle Sara. I didn't know you had one smartypants.

I see you now have some new readers Sara!

Michelle if you go to Mickey Path.com you can get their rolling ticker and fit them all into one.

Thanks Char - I will have to check that out and see if I can figure it out!

 

[mkluvsmickey]

Here are our tentative plans for our trip. We are doing a few things differently on this trip:

#1: We won’t be park hopping. While Samantha and I have AP’s, my parents don’t and we don’t think it’s necessary to add the hopper to them. Depending on our energy level, Sam and I may park hop one evening to see some of the late night festivities at MK.

#2: This is the first time we’ll be using the dining plan! It used to be that you couldn’t get the dining plan unless you were booking a package (which we never do since we have the AP). They’ve changed the rules now to allow AP holders to purchase the dining plan. I’m excited to try this and see how it works for our family.

#3: I am usually the type of person who doesn’t like to use my car once I get to WDW. I like to park it and not see it again until we have to leave. I actually enjoy the busses at WDW and have never had any major issues with them. But, we MAY drive to the parks on certain days just to see if it saves us any time. POP is fairly close to DHS and Epcot so we may drive on those days.


So, here are the basic plans! (I will do a more detailed plan for each day later)

Wednesday October 15

We will leave for WDW in the afternoon when Samantha’s school gets out. I may try to get her out a little early but if not, the latest we would leave would be around 3:00. My mom will leave work early also and we will pick her up at her house on the way. We should arrive at POP between 5:30 and 6:00. We will check in and then get some dinner at the food court. We will get settled in our room probably after dinner – I always like to unpack everything! I can’t settle in until everything is in its place! I also bought some Halloween window clings for our window – I’ve never decorated before but thought it would be fun to put some Halloween stuff up. We’ll just hang out at the resort this evening – explore the gift shop, Samantha might get her hair tied (or whatever that is called with the colored strings), and she will probably go swimming.


Thursday October 16

This is our MNSSHP evening. We were originally planning to do a non-park day until the party so that we didn’t overdue it before the party. But, now we are planning to go to Animal Kingdom in the morning (my mom really wanted to go there and this is the only time we could fit it in). We will have CS lunch there and hopefully head back to the resort in the early afternoon. I’m hoping we can rest (ha!) for a bit before getting ready for the party. Sam will be dressing up as Jasmine and my mom and I are wearing Halloween t-shirts. We have dinner at Kona before the party (which I’m really excited about trying!)


Friday October 17

Epcot day! We have breakfast reservations at Akershus in Norway. Samantha was still interested in seeing the princesses so I jumped on the opportunity! My dad (and possibly sister) will be coming in sometime today. Our plans for later in the day will depend on whether or not my sister comes or not.

If it is just Dad, he will meet us in Epcot and we will spend the afternoon/evening touring the F&W festival. My dad is an awesome cook and I think he’d enjoy all the food offerings there.

If my sister comes, she won’t have park passes for this day. So, I think my parents will still go to the F&W festival at Epcot and Samantha and I will do something non-park with Christy (sister). Maybe mini-golf or DTD.


Saturday October 18

DHS day! This is the day I’m having the most trouble fitting everything in. This was my dad’s choice and there are a lot of things he wants to see. We have lunch ADR’s at Sci-Fi. I think my parents will really enjoy it here – Sam and I went last October and decided we needed to take Grandma and Grandpa the next time they came. We want to see Fantasmic so I booked dinner at Hollywood & Vine with the Fantasmic dinner package. This is where my dilemma is. We will be spending quite a bit of our DHS day eating sit down meals. The Fantsasmic package requires and early seating so I’m not sure we’ll even be hungry at that time. But, we don’t want to have to worry about getting to Fantasmic super early either and not having the reserved spot. My dad has bad knees and can’t sit for a real long period of time. I think I’ll keep everything the way it is but I’m contemplating canceling the H&V dinner package and winging Fantasmic – we’ll see. If I do that, I’ll have to book a breakfast or something for Sunday to use our final TS credit.

Depending on how we feel, Sam and I may head over to MK after Fantasmic to try and see Wishes (we have never seen it).


Sunday October 19

Final Day. My parents and sister will leave in the morning but Sam and I will stay until late afternoon to enjoy our favorite park – Magic Kingdom! We will only have been there for the party so far so I know we’ll want to spend some more time there. It has become sort of a tradition to spend our last day there. It’s nice to have that time just the two of us. We will aim to be on the road back home no later than 5:00.

Then the Disney Depression will begin to set in ........

 

[kaysmommie]

Great plans! I can't believe you have never seen Wishes! Somehow I didn't know that. I sure hope you are able to see it on this trip, it's really beautiful. The dreaded Disney Depression it's the worst.

 

[Tat2ddisneymom]

Plans look good.

And just a little FYI...YES! Driving yourself saves TONS of time!

 

[mom2mek]

Plans look good Michelle! That dang DHS!!! It is really giving me trouble this trip as well! I just don't get how quickly that park has changed from a "eh" park that doesn't require rope drop or planning, into a park that my kids will want to see everthing! Ugh! I think you will be fine with both ADRs...Sci-Fi is early and with all the walking and everything...you will be hungry for H&V, I'm sure.

Ya'll are gonna have so much fun. It's so nice that your mom, dad, and sister are going to be there with you two! I'm looking forward to some of the F&W Festival too - you did it last year, right?

Sara

 

[mkluvsmickey]

Great plans! I can't believe you have never seen Wishes! Somehow I didn't know that. I sure hope you are able to see it on this trip, it's really beautiful. The dreaded Disney Depression it's the worst.

I hope we can see Wishes too! We had planned on it last October but never made it. One of these days for sure!

Plans look good.

And just a little FYI...YES! Driving yourself saves TONS of time!

Thanks Tat! I'm excited to find out how much time we really save - I may never go back to riding the bus!

Plans look good Michelle! That dang DHS!!! It is really giving me trouble this trip as well! I just don't get how quickly that park has changed from a "eh" park that doesn't require rope drop or planning, into a park that my kids will want to see everthing! Ugh! I think you will be fine with both ADRs...Sci-Fi is early and with all the walking and everything...you will be hungry for H&V, I'm sure.

Ya'll are gonna have so much fun. It's so nice that your mom, dad, and sister are going to be there with you two! I'm looking forward to some of the F&W Festival too - you did it last year, right?

Sara

I totally agree about DHS - still not sure we'll be able to get in both LMA and Indiana Jones with our meal times - ugh! I even considered just eating dinner at the snack bar in the Fantasmic theater! LOL I will try to bring it up with my parents tomorrow night - but usually they just tell me to do what I think is best.

Yes, we did the F&W festival last year but were so full from our meal we hardly got anything. This year we have breakfast at 10 ish and then I'm hoping to just snack around the world in the afternoon. I printed a list of each booths offerings from allears and highlighted the things I'd like to try! I'm not a real adventurous eater but there is plenty there that sounds wonderful!

 

[vermontgirl]

Hey Michelle,

I'm back!! Always love reading your pre-trip and trip reports. I just booked yesterday a last minute trip for me and my twin 9 yo dd's and my mom for 10/21-10/27 with MNSSHP on the 23rd. Sorry I will miss just miss you! Love your pictures of you and your daugther.....sooooo cute!

Jeanette

 

[SwansLoveDisney]

Subscribing!

Your plans look great...can't wait for more!

 

[julezdisney]

I totally agree about DHS - still not sure we'll be able to get in both LMA and Indiana Jones with our meal times - ugh! I even considered just eating dinner at the snack bar in the Fantasmic theater! LOL I will try to bring it up with my parents tomorrow night - but usually they just tell me to do what I think is best.

I'm with you on the DHS dilemma's, both those shows will be things the kids want to see. AND me! And I'm not missing F! no matter what.

 

[mkluvsmickey]

Hey Michelle,

I'm back!! Always love reading your pre-trip and trip reports. I just booked yesterday a last minute trip for me and my twin 9 yo dd's and my mom for 10/21-10/27 with MNSSHP on the 23rd. Sorry I will miss just miss you! Love your pictures of you and your daugther.....sooooo cute!

Jeanette

Hey Jeanette! Welcome! How exciting that you have a last minute trip planned! You will love MNSSHP (have you gone before?).

Thanks for the comments on the pictures too.

Subscribing!

Your plans look great...can't wait for more!

Hi! I'm glad you found me - thanks for reading!

I'm with you on the DHS dilemma's, both those shows will be things the kids want to see. AND me! And I'm not missing F! no matter what.

I know! Who would have thought that DHS would be the hardest to fit everything in - its those dang show times! I'm sure it will all work out.

 

[vermontgirl]

It would be really helpful if you could quote from a quote! I just spent 5 min. trying to figure out why I couldn't quote Michell....hellooooo Jeanette, wake up and get with it! Anyway, we have never been to MNSSHP before. Bailey looks a lot like Molly from the American Girl Dolls, so I bought her Molly's jammies, since her Molly got them for xmas last year and that's what they are going to be for Halloween (little does she know it will be at the bestest place in the whole wide world!!!) Unfortunately, we are still working on Courtney's costume.....she made a great hippie last year! Anyway, I can't wait to read more. Good to be back in all of your presences! (does that make sense?)

Have a great day!
Jeanette

 

[mkluvsmickey]

It would be really helpful if you could quote from a quote! I just spent 5 min. trying to figure out why I couldn't quote Michell....hellooooo Jeanette, wake up and get with it! Anyway, we have never been to MNSSHP before. Bailey looks a lot like Molly from the American Girl Dolls, so I bought her Molly's jammies, since her Molly got them for xmas last year and that's what they are going to be for Halloween (little does she know it will be at the bestest place in the whole wide world!!!) Unfortunately, we are still working on Courtney's costume.....she made a great hippie last year! Anyway, I can't wait to read more. Good to be back in all of your presences! (does that make sense?)

Have a great day!
Jeanette

The Molly costume sounds adorable! Great idea! You will love MNSSHP - it is great fun! Be sure to see the parade and fireworks. Will you dress up?

 

[mkluvsmickey]

Our first full day will be Thursday. We are gong to MNSSHP that evening so I am torn between trying to take it easy during the day so that we make it through the whole party or trying to get as much done as possible since our time is limited.

We are going to Animal Kingdom in the morning. I'd like to get there as close to rope drop as possible so we can get everything done and head back to the resort for a bit before the party. We usually just have breakfast in the room - I bring pop tarts, muffins, bars, etc. I will probably drive to AK this day.

(I figured I'd add some pictures from prior trips to make it more interesting)

Our must do's for today would be:

A meeting with the Yeti: (for Sam and I - my mom won't go near this ride)

Kali River Radids (this is what Sam looked like after our last ride)

I'd like to do the Safari - we haven't done that the last few trips.

My mom wants to see Festival of the Lion King and Finding Nemo The Musical - both of which I have not seen.

That's about it on our "must do" list - doable, right?

We plan to get an early lunch there at one of our favorites - Pizzafari!

Hopefully we can get back to the resort and swim and/or rest for a bit - we will have to leave again around 3:45 to head over to the Poly for our dinner at Kona before MNSSHP.

Up next - what will we wear to the party?

 

[kaysmommie]

Loved the AK pics. You haven't seen Nemo or Lion King. I can say for sure Lion King is really great!! We plan to see nemo this trip so iwill let you know which is better IMO. As far as LMA and Indy, I haven't seen either one . Thomas loved LMA and I love skipping it, LOL. I think Indy would be fun to see though.

 

[SwansLoveDisney]

I think it's a great idea to have a short morning and rest/swim at the resort before MNSSHP. Last year, we did not take enough time to rest in between and we were dragging by the end of the party!

Can't wait to hear about the costumes!

 

[mom2mek]

You forgot to mention...calling Sara on her birthday! Geez!

So, 3 rides, 2 shows, and an early lunch! You should be able to do that! At least the shows here aren't as difficult to plan around as DHS! I think Nemo has shows at 10:00 & 11:30am, and FOTLK has shows at 9:30, 10:30 & 11:30am.

So maybe you could do the rides, then 10:00 Nemo, safari, lunch, then 11:30 Lion King? Out by noon. Maybe? Or first Lion King at 9:30, rides, Nemo, then lunch on the way out...

I loved Nemo! So beautiful! Such talent! I've never seen Lion King, but I'm really hoping to see it in...oh,....IDK....DECEMBER?

Definitely want to rest up so you can stay for the whole party this time, right?

Sara