PRE-Pre Trip Report

[GADISNEYGIRL]

Here it is mid-June, and we have not been to WDW again since our two back-to-back trips in April/May. I *told* you we had a busy summer! All three of us have been suffering severe withdrawals. For our anniversary, DH gave me the talking monorail magnet~I think that just made it worse!! But never fear, as of Saturday, we are now planning TWO trips!

We had already planned to go in September (even before those 2 spontaneous trips in the spring), but have decided to stretch it out. We are cutting our annual mountain trip short by a Sunday, and since DH gets to take off 3 Sundays per year, we are applying a Sunday to this trip! Now, instead of going Thursday night through Saturday, we are going Tuesday night through Sunday. September plans (at this point) are:

Me, 31, Rhonda/Mommy; DH, 32, Mark/Daddy; DS, 2 1/2, Wesley~all WDW vets

Arrive late Tuesday night, as is our custom. We are trying to decide between Pop and ASMo. We've stayed at ASMo 3 times, because DS LOVES Toy Story. Any help with that decision??

Wednesday we will relax, hang out at the pool, have an early dinner at Chef Mickey's, go to bed early.

Thursday, we are beginning the day at the Princess Storybook Breakfast at Restaurant Akershus. DS is enamored with the princesses. He says they are "very pretty"! We think he will enjoy all the kisses. And surely the princesses need some princes to talk to occasionally! I think DH is planning to be a prince, himself, that day! Any boys out there who have experienced this? After the breakfast, we will spend the day at Epcot, with a light lunch somewhere (whatever we feel like), and ice cream with Mickey at the Ice Cream Social. We'll have dinner at Tangierine Cafe, and depending on DS's status (did he get a nap, or no), may or may not stay for Illuminations.

Friday we head to the Magic Kingdom. No set meal plans here, except maybe The Plaza for lunch. We've never eaten there. We'll stay until MK closes, then hop over to Epcot for the remainder of the evening. (Also, we may be moving to the Wilderness Lodge on Friday, but that is contingent upon how much money we make on our current eBay listings, and any others we have before September!)

Saturday, assuming we move to WL, we will explore a little, have a late PS breakfast at 1900 Park Fare, explore the GF a bit, come back for a nap and some pool time, then hit DTD for a little shopping.

Sunday, we will have a late PS breakfast at either Chef Mickey's or Cape May. Probably Chef Mickey's, because, well, Mickey is there! But we do have CM friends at Cape May, so we'll have to see. Then it's back home.

Now, for December!

Me, 31, Rhonda/Mommy; DH, 32, Mark/Daddy; DS, nearly 3, Wesley (all Disney vets); Grandma, 60-something; Dat (Grandad), 60-something

OUR plan was to go down on Thursday, to Epcot on Friday, including the Candlelight Processional, and home on Saturday. But the in-laws have suggested going down on Wednesday, to Epcot one day and MK the other day. No complaints here! Again, we'll be staying at either ASMo or Pop. Probably depends on where we end up in September. Since they'll be paying for all the "big" stuff (tickets, rooms), we thought we'd spring for a couple of character meals for us all.

Would welcome any comments/suggestions about my plans, especially re: the lodging (Pop or ASMu) and boys at the Princess Breakfast. "Real" pre-trip reports will be posted closer to the time of our trips.

Have a Magical Disney Day!

 

[Magic2000]

We've stayed at the All Star Movies for three of our "quick trip to see the Christmas decorations"! My youngest DD loves the hotel - especially the 101 Dalmations section!

For our upcoming trip in July, we are trying Pop Century. We just wanted to try the new hotel - and we did book the preferred bldg, so we should be by Mowgly and Baloo. (And they also have Lady and the Tramp). Maybe yall could watch those movies before your trip so your son is familiar with the characters!

I think it would be great to add in some character meals - Chef Mickeys is a favorite, we also like Crystal Palace in the MK. We also like Ohanas at the Polynesian. Although its not a "character" meal, it is served family style, and they do hoola hoop and coconut races with the kids. They also show the kids how to do the hoola. It also provides a great view of the fireworks!

We've done the Princess breakfast many times, and there are lots of little boys there! Let him enjoy being a little Prince!!

If you really want to stay for Illuminations and your son hasn't napped, you may try taking him into the American Pavillion; for some reason, when my girls were younger - they always fell asleep during this. And, its nice and air conditioned. My youngest DD still falls asleep during this show.

Good luck - and enjoy your trip(s)!!! We'll be sneaking in another trip at Christmas time too! We're going the week AFTER Thanksgiving - but can't wait to see Candlelight Processional and MVMCP!!

 

[GADISNEYGIRL]

After much discussion and debate (and a lot of DIS reading!), plans have changed for the December trip.

New itinerary:

All arrive by 1pm Wednesday, check in to Pop Century (reservations made last night).
Have lunch at food court; Wesley gets a nap. Go to Downtown Disney, have dinner there. To bed early.

Thursday:
Be at Epcot by park opening. Have an early, light lunch. Attend Ice Cream Social. Dinner at Biergarten. Watch Candlelight Processional from back (rather than doing the dinner package w/ reserved seating). To bed, when we get there.

Friday:
Sleep in a bit, resort hop to see decorations. Light lunch somewhere. 5pm PS at Crystal Palace (tried for Liberty Tree, but it was already full, so we have to wait until 90 days out to see about CP). This will get us early entry into the park for MVMCP (tickets purchased last night). Stay as long as DS lasts! We'll have the stroller, so if he goes to sleep, no problem.

Saturday:
Sleep in, have breakfast at either Chef Mickey's or 1900 Park Fare. Head home.

We have never done MVMCP, so we are very excited!!

 

[GADISNEYGIRL]

We're still planning two trips (it's been 2 1/2 months since our 2 spur of the moment trips~I did assure you that there was no way we'd make it back before September!!)...but more details have been worked out.

Cast remains the same: Mommy, Daddy and Wesley (see above)

September 14-19 @ Pop Century, $55/night. We've had a time with the room situation, but I think we finally have it straightened out. We're pleased with the price, and excited to explore a new resort. After our 2nd spontaneous trip in the spring, we had thought to try a moderate for the September trip. But with this rate being what it is, we felt we could hardly pass it up! We'll arrive late on the 14th.

9/15: Late breakfast at Cape May (to see Minnie and Goofy, of course, but also to hopefully see CMs Cindy and Dorothy~the ladies who were so sweet to us back in May). The rest of the day will be devoted to exploring the resort and staying in the water as much as Wesley will allow. Maybe a hop over to DTD. Dinner at resort or DTD.

9/16: PSB in Norway, earliest seating. Looking forward to this, especially DH!! We'll enjoy an entire day at Epcot. We haven't done that in years!! Not sure about lunch plans, something very light, maybe only a snack. Ice Cream Social at 2:50, I believe. We'll have dinner at Tangeriene Cafe. To bed as early as possible!

9/17: CRT, earliest seating. DH and I are both really excited about this. Wow, we're eating in the castle! Why two princess meals with DS? He is quite the ladies' man already! Wouldn't be surprised if one of these breakfasts is his favorite part of the trip... We're eating breakfast early, so still plan to try The Plaza for lunch. We're not making a PS, though. If we can't get in, no biggie. We may swing by an hour or so before we want to eat, and see if we can make a PS then, otherwise, Cosmic Ray's has always been good to us! We hope to catch the parade. In all our trips to WDW, I don't know that we've ever actually sat and watched a parade! We also decided to go for a PS at Crystal Palace. If we're just too stuffed from our other meals, we'll cancel the PS. But I have a feeling we'll enjoy this one! Stick around for Wishes (it is scheduled for that night), then determine if we want to head to Epcot for the last hour or just go back to the room a little early and relax. Depends largely on Wesley's mood at that point!

9/18: Breakfast at 1900 Park Fare. We've been watching Mary Poppins and Alice in Wonderland in preparation! Pool, DTD for the remainder of the day...then Chef Mickey's for dinner. Have always wanted to try their dinner.

9/19: Pack up, head to CR for breakfast at Chef Mickey's. We know we love the breakfast there, thought it would be a nice way to end the trip. Then back home, to countdown the remaining days til our December trip!

For December, we have ressies at Pop Century 12/1-12/4. Most things remain as they were. We are still doing Epcot on our first park day, but have decided to do the CP package (easier to get in the restaurants, plus it will be nice to be guaranteed a seat)-still going with Biergarten I think, but have not talked to the in-laws in much detail about that. MVMCP day we did finally get PS for LTT.

On our way home in September, of course, we will be figuring how early in 2005 we can go. We're liking this having 2 trips in the works thing!!